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Published by Subscription. 
Edition Limited. 



Copyright, 1896. 

By Reuben Aldridge Guild. 

All rights reserved. 



Printfd by 
Snow & Farnham. 



EARLY HISTOR 



BROWN UNIVERSITY. 

INCLUDING THE 

Life, Times, and Correspondence of 

President Manning. 

1756-1791. 



BY REUBEN ALDRIDGE GUILD, A. M., LL. D. 
LIBRARIAN EMERITUS. 



HIC LOCUS AETATIS NOSTRAS PRIMORDIA NOVIT, 

ANNOS FELICES, LAKTITIAECJUE DIES. 
HIC LOCUS INGENUIS I'UEKILES IMHUIT ANNOS 

AKTIBUS, ET NO.STRAE LAUDIS OKIGO FUIT. 
HIC LOCUS INSIGNES MAGNOSC(UE CKEAVIT ALUMNOS. 

— Neck ham. 



Providence, 1897. 



ly. 



T/Id'^^ 



^'] 



TO 



THE ALUMNI 



\vown Huiverisiity 



THIS WORK IS RESrECTFULLY DEDICATED 



THE AUTHOR. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



JAMES MANNING, • 

THE AUTHOR, 

HOPEWELL ACADEMY, 

JOHN GANO, 

WILLIAM ROGERS, 

DAVID HOWELL, 

COLLEGE EDIFICE AND PRESIDENT'S HOUSE, 

SAMUEL STENNETT, 

FIRST BAPTIST MEETING-HOUSE, . 

SOLOMON DROWNE, 

SAMUEL STILLMAN, 

JOHN RIPPON, 

CALEB EVANS, 

ISAAC BACKUS, 



Frontispiece 


Page 6 


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40 


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64 


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69 


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157 


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159 


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226 


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344 


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374 


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388 


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529 



PREFACE. 



At the annual meeting of the Corporation of Brown University, 
held in September, 1844, a resolution was unanimously passed request- 
ing Professor Gammell to prepare " an adequate history of the origin 
and progress of the University." Want of sufficient material was with- 
out doubt the reason why the facile pen of the Professor of Rhetoric 
and History was not employed on this important and much needed 
work. Three years later the author, immediately on graduating, 
entered upon his long professional career in connection with the 
Library. At first he was an assistant under the late Professor Charles 
C. Jewett. In March, 1848, he succeeded him in the Librarianship of 
the University. One of his earliest efforts as Librarian was to complete 
a file of the annual catalogues. Afterwards, by means of circulars and 
otherwise, he made a collection of pamphlets, manuscripts and docu- 
ments illustrative of the history of the College. As a result he 
published, in 1864, a large duodecimo volume of five hundi-ed and 
twenty-three pages, entitled, "Life, Times and Correspondence of 
James Manning and the Early History of Brown University ' ' ; and 
three years later a handsome quarto volume entitled, "History of 
Brown University, with Illustrative Documents." These works have 
long been out of print, the number of copies of the latter having been 
limited to three hundred and ten, and the stereotype plates of the for- 
mer having been destroyed in the breaking up of the long established 
house of Gould and Lincoln, of Boston. 

At the Commencement m 1893, the author resigned his position as 
Librarian, after a continuous and uninterrupted service of forty-six 



2 PREFACE. 

years. Since that time he has been employed upon the present work. 
It was his original intention, in accordance with the circulars sent out, 
to include in this first volume a history of the Library, an account of 
the Revivals in College, and an account of the Portraits in Sayles 
Memorial Hall. These will appear in the second volume. In their 
stead he has revised and rewritten his Life of Manning, enlarging upon 
the early history of the College, and devoting entire chapters to sub- 
jects of special interest, among which may be mentioned the origin of 
the College, the Charter, the First Commencement, the Contest for the 
final location, the early College Laws, the history of the First Baptist 
Church, and the building of the present spacious and beautiful meeting- 
house "for the public worship of Almighty God, and also for holding 
Commencement in." The Correspondence of Manning, who was a lead- 
ing man in Providence during all the trying scenes of the War of the 
Revolution, and undoubtedly stood at the head of the denomination to 
which he was attached, are republished in full, together with additional 
letters which have come to light during the past thirty years. They 
furnish an admirable illustration of the efforts put forth by our fathers 
under the auspices of the College, and the Warren Association, in behalf 
of civil and religious freedom. Interspersed throughout the book are 
sketches of Manning's associates and pupils, and of his correspondents, 
some of whom were among the leading Dissenters in England, and were 
specially friendly to the American cause during the war. This first 
volume, which is complete in itself, is now given to the public, among 
whom are two thousand graduates, with the author's best wishes for 
tlie prosperity and continued growth of his beloved Alma Matek. 

R. A. G. 

Providence, September 1, 1896. 



FIRST PREFACE. 

18 6 4. 



A CENTURY has elapsed since Brown University was founded, and nearly three 
quarters of a century have passed away since the death of Dr. Manning ; yet no 
extended history of the one or life of the other has heen published. This neglect to 
record the honors, the struggles, and triumphs of the founder, so to speak, of the 
venerable seat of learning, with the early history of which his own history is so closely 
identified, must be ascribed, in part, to the almost habitual indifference which Baptists 
have thus far manifested to the characters and the fame of their fathers and departed 
worthies. 

"It is mortifying," says a writerMn one of the earlier numbers of the Christian 
Review, "that we have allowed men like Clarke and Callender, Backus and Manning — 
each of them an honored and true-hearted advocate of the faith which we profess, at a 
time when this faith was despised and derided over the greater part of New England, — 
to pass away so nearly from the memory of men. They were all scholars, who com- 
pared well with the foremost of their time. Some of them, also, have linked their 
names with the history of the country, by the services they rendered in the days of her 
early settlements, and her subsequent struggles for national independence. But no one 
of them has found among their own brethren a biographer to set forth their labors and 
sacrifices, and to delineate their characters in connection with the peculiar faith which 
they professed. Their lives, in some instances, at least, were filled with important 
events, which illustrated the civil and religious character of the age to which they 
belong. They were made beautiful, too, by their simple manners, their all-enduring 
faith, their deep devotion to truth. It is sad to think that their memory has so nearly 
perished, and it is humiliating to think that this would have been permitted in no other 
denomination than our own." 

In 1815, twenty-four years after Dr. Manning's death, a brief sketch of his character 
and life by the late John Howland, Esq., was published in the Rhode Island Literary 
Repositonj. It comprises sixteen pages, and consists chiefly of personal recollections. 
Mr. Howland, althoiigh his calling was humble, possessed original and vigorous powers 



1 Frof . Wm. Gammell. 



4 FIRST PREFACE. 

of mind, which he had cultivated by extensive reading and a close observation of men 
and manners. He was a warm admirer of President Manning, who, with the leading 
men of the town, used to frequent his shop. Although differing from him in his 
religious sentiments, he has furnished a sketch of Manning which the Rev. Dr. Hague, 
in his " Historical Discourse," pronounces " an elegant tribute to his memory." 

Nearly a quarter of a century later, a memoir of President Manning, from the pen of 
"William Giles Goddard, LL. D., at that time the accomplished Professor of Belles-letters 
in Brown University, was published in the American Quarterly Register. This memoir is 
necessarily brief, and although an admirable specimen of the author's skill in literary 
writing, furnishes but little additional information respecting Manning, his materials 
having been limited mainly to the College records, and the traditions that had come 
down to his time. As an illustration of this dearth of material, the Rev. Dr. Elton, a 
few years later, in his "Literary Remains of Jonathan Maxcy," D. D., thus remarks: 
" President Manning embodied in an enduring form few of the productions of his noble 
mind. Of his writings, after diligent inquiry for several years, we have been able to 
obtain only two of his familiar letters, and an address delivered to the graduating 
class in 1789." 

The present work owes its origin to a train of circumstances, by which the author 
came into the possession of new and original sources of information in regard to 
Manning and his associates. In the year 1848, soon after he entered upon his duties as 
Librarian of Brown University, a handsome morocco portfolio, lettered on the back 
" Manning Papebs," was placed in his hands, as the custodian of the Library. These 
papers, containing thirteen packages carefully arranged by Manning himself, were 
found on examination to be his correspondence with friends in England, he having pre- 
served copies of his own letters to them. They came from the late Mrs. Ludlow, wife 
of the Rev. Peter Ludlow, and daughter of the Rev. Stephen Gano. Mr. Gano, upon the 
death of Mrs. Manning, who was his aunt, took possession of Mr. Manning's papers, as 
administrator of the estate. Upon his own death, in 1828, the portfolio containing 
Manning's foreign correspondence, as above described, fell into the hands of his daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Ludlow, who finally presented it to the Library. The greater portion, 
howcA^er, of Dr. Manning's papers, being loosely kept in barrels, were, through a sad 
mistake which good housewives sometimes make, unfortunately destroyed. These 
papers comprised without doubt private diaries, important narratives, records pertain- 
ing to the Church, the College, the Association, — in short, ample materials for his own 
personal history, and the history of his times. An instance like this illustrates the 
folly of making the garrets and storehouses of private dwellings places of deposit for 
valuable manuscript papers, for the care and preservation of which historical societies 
are instituted. 



FIRST PREFACE. 

The acquisition of the"MANNiNa Papers " awakened on the part of the author a 
desire to obtain further information in regard to the early history of the College, and 
the life of its first President. By means of letters and circulars and by persistent 
effort, a large number of manuscript documents, printed pamphlets, sermons, addresses, 
catalogues, theses, jirogrammes, minutes of the Warren Association, etc., have been 
collected and carefully arranged for preservation in the College Library. The titles of 
most of these are given in Bartlett's Bibliography of Rhode Island (see under Brown 
University, pp. 45-66). From these varied materials the present work has been mainly 
compiled. 

In preparing a history of this kind, a large number of books and pamphlets have of 
necessity been consulted and used, many of which are referred to, both in the text and 
in foot-notes. The " Manning Papers," the papers and correspondence of Hezekiah 
Smith, D. D., the papers of the Hon. David Howell, and the early College records, 
together with files of the Providence Gazette, constitute, it may be added, the basis of 
the book. 

The author takes great pleasure in acknowledging herewith his obligations to David 
Benedict, D. D., the veteran historian, from whom he obtained Manning's diary and the 
correspondence of Hezekiah Smith, together with other valuable letters and documents, 
including a set of the printed minutes of the Warren Association from the year 1771 ; 
William B. Sprague, D. D., of Albany, who kindly furnished copies of Manning's letters 
to General Miller, and also presented to the Library the original draft of the 
College Charter, of which an account is given in the first chapter, and in the Appendix ; 
Horatio Gates Jones, Esq., Philadelphia, from whom he obtained copies of Manning's 
letters to Rev. Thomas Ustick, and also much information essential to his work ; the 
Rev. Silas Hall, of Raynham, Mass., to whom he is indebted for a copy of Backus's 
manuscript minutes of the first four meetings of the Warren Association; Capt. G. L. 
Dwight, for papers belonging to his great-grandfather, the Hon. David Howell, 
including letters to him from Manning ; the Rev. Thomas S. Drowne, of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., for many rare documents and pamphlets pertaining to the early history of the 
College ; the Rhode Island Historical Society, for the free use of its accumulated 
treasures, and, in fine, to all the numerous friends who have in any manner aided him 
in his work. 

Justice to his feelings requires the author to express his special gratitude to Baruas 
Sears, D. D., President of Brown University, for valuable suggestions and counsels, and 
for friendly encouragement, given him from time to time while engaged in the prosecu- 
tion of his labors. The publishers also, Messrs. Gould and Lincoln, deserve grateful 
mention for the interest which they have taken in the publication of the book, the good 
taste which they have displayed in its mechanical execution, and for the liberality 
and promptness with which the arrangements have been made and comi)leted. 



6 FIRST PEEFACE. 

The undertaking was entered upon with great diffidence. It has been continued 
from year to year, under all the disadvantages of accumulated public and professional 
duties, and amidst freqvient interruptions. Historical accuracy, and not literary excel- 
lence, is all, therefore, to which the author has been able to aspire. Sincerely wishing 
that he had possessed greater skill and more ample leisure for the performance of the 
task to which his position as Librarian seems naturally to have assigned him, the 
work, with all its imperfections, is herewith submitted to the public, in the hope that it 
may prove acceptable to the general reader, and especially useful to the College, and to 
the religious denomination under whose auspices the College was founded. 

R. A. G. 
Brown University, September 1, 1864. 




/(/f/«^>L C X\ ij(tt/c/ 



L 



^ 



Brown University and Manning. 



CHAPTER I. 

1756-1763. 

Origin of the College — Baptists a century and a half ago — Principles at variance with 
those of the standing orders — Six colleges in existence at this time — Hopewell 
Academy and the Philadelphia Association — Isaac Eaton — Distinguished graduates 
of the Academy — Success of the Academy inspired the friends of learning in the 
denomination to found a college — Morgan Edwards the prime mover in the matter 

— Sketch of his character and life — Inclined to Toryism during the "War of the 
Revolution — Two sons William and Joshua — Extracts from the funeral sermon of 
the latter preached in 1854, giving particulars relating to his father — Piecantation 
of Toryism in 1775 — Extracts from the funeral sermon of Morgan Edwards, preached 
by the Rev. Dr. William Rogers, in 1795 — Peculiarities — Meeting of the Philadelphia 
Association, Oct. 12, 1762, when the moderator, Morgan Edwards, made the motion to 
found a college — Difficulties in the way of such an undertaking — Urgent need of an 
educated Baptist ministry — Colleges in existence generally unfriendly to Baptists — 
Extract from Backus 's history — James Manning esteemed a suitable leader in the 
new enterprise — Beginnings in the history of Rhode Island College, now Brown 
University, found in connection with the Philadelphia Association — Extracts from 
the records showing a continued interest in the Institution — Manning's birth and 
parentage — First pupil of Isaac Eaton at the Hopewell Academy — Conversion and 
baptism — Benjamin Miller his pastor — At the age of twenty admitted a mem- 
ber of the Freshman class in the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University — 
Extract from Maclane's history relative to the founding of the College — Samuel 
Davies and Samuel Finlay Presidents — Letter from Oliver Hart on death of Davies 

— Laws and Customs of the College — Manning's Classmates— Diploma — Licensed 
to preach — Marriage to Margaret Stites — Account of the Stites family — Ordained 
and set apart as an Evangelist —Letter from Oliver Hart inviting him to settle in 
South Carolina — Sketch of his brother-in-law. Rev. John Gano. 

Brown University owes its origin to a desire on the part of mem- 
bers of the Philadelpliia Association,' to secure for the Baptist clmrches 
an educated ministry, without the restrictions of denominational influence 
or sectarian tests. The distinguishing sentiments of the Baptists, it 

1 The oldest Baptist Association in America, founded in 1707. 



8 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. I. 

may be observed, were at variance with the religious opinions that pre- 
vailed throughout the American colonies. They advocated the 
supremacy of the Bible as the only authoritative rule of faith and prac- 
tice in religious concernments, freedom of worship, liberty of con- 
science, the entire separation of church and state, believers' baptism 
by immersion, and a converted church membership; — principles for 
which they had earnestly contended from the days of Roger Williams. 
The student of history will readily perceive how they thus came into 
conflict with the ruling powers. The pagea of Backus^ and Semple- 
abound in instances of individual oppression and of relentless persecu- 
tion. In Massachusetts and Connecticut they were taxed for the 
support of churches of the standing order, and upon a refusal of the 
payment of rates, their lands, homes, and goods were seized and sold, 
and they themselves were imprisoned. In Virginia the laws against 
Dissenters bore heavily and mainly against the Baptists, who suffered 
imprisonment, accompanied by fines, whippings, and other penalties. 
Throughout the land they appear to have been subjected to contumely 
and reproach. In the words of Manning they were " poor, despised and 
oppressed." This prejudice and opposition against the Baptists, or 
Anabaptists as they were termed in derision, Avas very naturally shared 
by the colleges and academies then in existence.^ 

In the year 1756, there was founded at Hopewell, New Jersey, 
under the auspices of the Philadelphia Association, an academy " for 
the education of youth for the ministry." Among the early records of 
the Association appears the following, under date of October 5th, this 
being the time of the annual meeting: — "Concluded to raise a sum 
of money toward the encouragement of a Latin Grammar School, for 
the promotion of learning among us, under the care of the Rev. Isaac 

1 History of New England with particular reference to the denomination of Christians called 
Baptists. Vol. 1, 1777 ; Vol. 2, 1784 ; Vol. 3, 1796. Reprinted hy the Backus Historical Society, 2 vols. 
8vo. Ne^vton, Mass., 1871. 

^History of the Baptists in Virginia. 12mo. 1810. Recently reprinted by the Southern Baptist 
Publication Society. 

3 There were six colleges in the Colonies when the charter for Rhode Island College was granted, 
viz.: Harvard, founded in 1638; William and Mary, 1692; Yale, 1701; College of New Jersey, or 
Princeton, 1746; University of Pennsylvania, 1753; and Columbia, 1754. 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 9 

Eaton, and the inspection of our brethren, Abel Morgan, Isaac Stelle, 
Abel Griffith, and Peter B. Van Home." Mr. Eaton was the son of the 
Rev. Josejih Eaton, of Montgomery, Pennsylvania. At an early age he 
began to preach, and when twent3^-four years old took charge of the 
church in Hopewell. This was in November, 1748. Rich blessings 
were the result of his pastorate, which ended only with his life, twenty- 
six years after his ordination.^ He at once became prominent in the 
Association, and thus the way was opened for what proved to be the 
great work of his life. To him, therefore, says a distinguished writer,^ 
belongs the honor of being the first American Baptist to establish a semi- 
nary for the literary and theological training of young men. For this 
work his natural endowments of mind, his rare personality, his varied 
attainments in knowledge, and his genuine piety, happily qualified 
him. Under his wise management and able instruction, the academy 
had a prosperous existence for eleven years. During this period 
many, who afterwards became eminent in the ministry, received from 
him their education. Among them may be mentioned his first pupil, 
James Manning; Hezekiah Smith, "the great man of Haverhill," and 
the distinguished Chaplain of the Revolution ; Samuel Stillman, the 
eloquent preacher of Boston; Samuel Jones, who was informally 
invited to succeed Manning in the Presidency of Rhode Island College ; 
John Gano, Manning's brother-in-law, the fearless Chaplain, and "a 
Prince among the Baptist hosts of Israel"; Oliver Hart, the beloved 
pastor and patriot of Charleston, South Carolina ; Charles Thompson, 
the Valedictorian of the first graduating class under Manning; William 
Williams, also of this class, the founder of an academy in Wrentham ; 
Isaac Skillman, of Boston, a member of the famous " Committee on 
Grievances"; John Davis, of Boston, the first agent of the churches 
of the Warren Association ; David Jones, the eminent jiastor, patriot 



1 The tablet erected to his memory, first in the meeting-house, and now in the cemetery of the 
Hopewell Church, has this inscription : — "To the front of this are deposited the remains of Rev. 
Isaac Eaton, A. M., who for upwards of twenty-six years was pastor of this church, from the care of 
•which he was removed by death, on the 4th of July, 1772, in the forty-seventh year of his age." 

" In him with grace and eminence did shine 
The man, the Christian, scholar, and divine." 

2 Prof. William Goddard, LL. D. See memoir of President Manning. 



10 BROWN UNIVERSITT Chap. I. 

and chaplain ; and John Sutton who accompanied Manning on his first 
visit to Rhode Island in behalf of the College. Not a few of the Hope- 
well Academy pupils distinguished themselves in the professions of 
medicine and law. Of this latter class was the Honorable Judge 
Howell, a name familiar to the students of Rhode Island College, and 
to the statesmen and jurists of his day. Benjamin Stelle, who was 
graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1766, and afterwards 
established a Latin School in Providence, was also a pupil of Mr. Eaton. 
His daughter Mary, it may be added, was the second wife of the Hon- 
orable Nicholas Brown, the well-known benefactor from whom Brown 
University derives its name. Dr. Stites who educated his nephew 
Stephen Gano, and John and Richard Stites, all brothers-in-law of 
Manning, are included in the list of Hopewell graduates. The 
house in which the sessions of the academy were held is still standing, 
and is regarded as an object of interest to the historian and antiquary. 
It is on the Bound Brook Railroad, near the Calvary Church, and not far 
from the "Old School Baptist Church" edifice, in which the descend- 
ants of the people to whom Mr. Eaton ministered, are accustomed 
to meet for worship. The structure is a plain substantial building in 
good condition. The accompanying engraving is taken from a cut in 
Cook's "Story of the Baptists."^ 

The success of the Hopewell Academy inspired the friends of learn- 
ing in the denomination with renewed confidence, and incited them to 
establish a college. "Many of the churches," says a contemporary, 
"being supplied with able pastors from Mr. Eaton's academy, and 
being thus convinced, from experience, of the great usefulness of human 
literature to more thoroughly furnish the man of God for the most 
important work of the Gospel ministry, the hands of the Pliiladelphia 
Association were strengthened, and their hearts were encouraged to 
extend their designs of promoting literature in the Society (denomina- 
tion), by erecting, on some suitable part of this continent, a college or 



1 The Story of the Baptists in all Ages and Countries. By Rev. Richard B. Cook, D. D. l2mo. 
Baltimore, 1884. The thirty-third thousand of this popular and instructive history was published 
in Springfield, Mass., in 1889. 




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1756-1763. AND MANNING. 11 

university, which should be principally under the direction and govern- 
ment of the Baptists. At first some of the Southern colonies seemed 
to bid fairest to answer their purpose, there not being so many colleges 
in those colonies as in the Northern ; but the Northern colonies having 
been visited by some of the Association, who informed them of the 
great increase of the Baptist societies (churches) of late in those parts, 
and that the Rhode Island Government had no public school or college 
in it, and was originally settled by persons of the Baptist persuasion, 
and a greater part of the Government remained so still, there was no 
longer any doubt but that this was the most suitable place in which to 
carry tlie design into execution." 

The foregoing extract, which appears in an appendix to President 
Sears's Centennial Discourse,^ is taken from a rough sketch on file 
'among some papers belonging to the Hon. Judge Howell, which were 
placed in the author's hands many years ago by a descendant, the late 
Gamaliel Lyman Dwight. Dr. Sears attributes the paper to the Rev. 
Morgan Edwards. Whether from his pen, or that of Judge Howell, 
which latter seems quite probable, the writer was evidently familiar 
with all the facts pertaining to the origin and early history of the 
College. Mr. Edwards, whose name in this connection is henceforth 
prominent, was the pastor of the Baptist Church in Philadelphia, now 
called the First Church, to which he had been recommended by the Rev. 
Dr. Gill and others of London. He was a native of Wales, and was 
born on the 9th of May, 1722. His early education was obtained at 
the schools of Monmouthshire, and at a suitable age he was placed 
at the celebrated Bristol Academy, under the instruction of the Rev. 
Dr. Bernard Foskett.^ Upon leaving the academy he preached for 
seven years to a small congregation in Boston, Lincolnshire, pursuing 
meanwhile his theological studies. He became a proficient in Hebrew 
and Greek, and made the Old and New Testaments in their original 
tongues his constant companions, deeming them to be, using his own 

1 Celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Founding of Brown University, Septem- 
ber Gth, 1804. 8vo. Providence, 1865. See pp. 62-64. 

2 For a biographical sketch of Dr. Foskett, see Rippon's Baptist Register for the years 1794-7, 
Vol. 2. 8vo. Lond., pp. 422-31. 



12 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. 

words, the "two eyes of a minister." On the first day of June, 1757, 
he was ordained pastor of a Baptist church in Cork, Ireland. Here he 
remained nine years ; and here he married his first wife, whose maiden 
name was Mary Nunn. He arrived in Philadelphia on the 23d of May, 
1761, and at once entered upon the duties of his American pastorate. 
Being now in the prime of life, and possessed of superior learning and 
abilities united with uncommon perseverance and zeal, he became an 
acknowledged leader in various literary and benevolent undertakings, 
devoting to them freely his talents and his time, and thereby rendering 
essential service to the denomination to which he was attached. He 
was the moving cause of having the minutes of the Philadelphia 
Association printed, publishing first, at his own expense, tables exhibit- 
ing the original and annual state of the associating churches. He 
journeyed from New Hampshire to Georgia, gathering facts for a 
history of the Baptists; and these "Materials," as he termed them, 
penned or printed, are the most valuable records of the kind extant. 
"In his day," says Cathcart, "no Baptist minister equalled him, and 
since his day no one has excelled him." This may be a somewhat 
exaggerated statement, having special reference doubtless to his historical 
labors. It shows the estimation in which he is held by a former Phila- 
delphia pastor, and the author of the "Baptist Encyclopjjedia." The 
great enterprise in which Mr. Edwards engaged, and the one with which 
his name will be forever associated, was the founding of Rhode Island 
College. In this he appears to have been the prime mover. His 
activity in procuring from the State Legislature a charter, and his exer- 
tions in procuring in England and Ireland the first funds for the 
endowment of the "Infant Institution," he deemed to his latest days 
to be the greatest service he had ever rendered for the Baptist cause. 
This statement is made by the Rev. Dr. William Rogers, in a funeral 
discourse which he preached on the 22d of February, 1795.^ Dr. Rogers 
was a member of the first graduating class of the College, and Mr. 



iThis discourse was first published in Rippon's Baptist Register for the years 1794-97, Vol 2. 
8vo. Lend., pp. 308-14. A portion of it is given in " Documentary fflstory of the University," 
pp. 167-171. 



1756-1763. A^-D MANNING. 13 

Edwards's.successorin the pastorate at Philadelphia. In his "Materials 
towards a History of the Baptists in Pennsylvania," published in 1770, 
Mr. Edwards speaks of himself, quoting his own words, as having 
" labored hard to settle a Baptist College in the Rhode Island Govern- 
ment, and to raise money to endow it ; which he deems the greatest 
service he has done or hopes to do for the Baptist interest." In the 
same work, after speaking of his endeavors to make the combination 
of Baptist Churches universal upon this continent, he adds : — ' 'And 
should God give me success herein, as in the affair of the Baptist 
College, I shall deem myself the happiest man on earth." 

During the Revolutionary struggle Mr. Edwards sympathized with 
the mother country, where nearly forty years of his life had been spent, 
and where he had secured substantial aid for the College. Hence his 
influence was greatly impaired, and his affections were for a time alien- 
ated from his brethren in the ministry, who, to a man, were ardent 
patriots. According to Cathcart, who has published a volume entitled, 
"The Baptists and the American Revolution," he was the only Tory 
in the ministry of the American Baptist Churches. His Toryism, how- 
ever, was rather a matter of principle than of action, yet it served to 
bring him into disrepute. Having a Welsh temperament he could 
hardly restrain his speech, and in the beginning of the war he made use 
of expressions which gave great offence. His family, too, was identi- 
fied with His Majesty's service, one of liis sons being an officer in the 
English arm}\ He married for his second wife, according to Dr. 
Rogers's statement, a Mrs. Singleton of Delaware, in which state he 
resided many years, upon a plantation which he had purchased. At a 
meeting of the Committee of White Clay Creek, held at Mr. Henry 
Darby's house, in New York, Aug. 7, 1775, Mr. Edwards was present 
and signed a recantation of his Tory principles, which was voted satis- 
factory. After the war he occasionally read lectures in Divinity in Phil- 
adelphia and other cities, but he could never be prevailed upon to resume 
the work of a Cliristian minister. He died at Pencader, Newcastle 
County, Delaw^are, on the 28th of January, 1795, in the seventy-tliird 
year of his age. The universal testimony of those with whom he was 



14 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. I. 

associated, and wlio knew him intimately was, that he was "a great 
and a good man."^ 

Mr. Edwards left two sons, William and Joshua. The former was 
a pupil in Manning's Latin School at Warren, removing with the 
School to Providence in 1770. At the second Commencement of the 
College, the account states, " the business of the day being concluded, 
and before the assembly broke up, a piece from Homer was pronounced 
by Master Billy Edwards, not nine years old." He was graduated from 
the College in 1776. Sympathizing with his father in his attachment 
to the land of his birth, he espoused the cause of George HI. in the 
great Revolutionary struggle. Eventually he became a British officer 
with the rank of colonel. After the war he resided in London. On his 
way to Cork from Bristol to see about the settlement of his mother's 
estate, he in some way perished, as nothing was ever heard from him 
afterwards. Joshua was born in Philadelphia, Dec. 29, 1769. On 
arriving at manhood he spent some time in England, being in the posses- 
sion of an ample estate. Returning to this country he married and 
settled in New Jersey, where he died in 1854, at the advanced age of 
eighty-five. A son of his. Rev. Morgan Edwards, an eccentric Baptist 
preacher and evangelist, was living some years ago in Burlington, Iowa. 
In a correspondence with him the writer received an account of his life, 
and copious extracts from a sermon preached at his father's funeral in 
1854. These extracts give new and interesting particulars respecting 
his grandfather, Morgan Edwards. No apology need be offered for 
publishing in this connection some of these extracts : — 

Morgan Edwards was a native of Wales. In early life he embraced Baptist princi- 
ples (Ms parents were of the Church of England), and having studied in the academy 
of the pious Dr. Foskett, he completed his theological course under the three great Bap- 
tist divines and scholars, Dr. Stennett, Dr. Llewelyn, and Dr. Gill. The Baptist con- 
gregation in Philadelphia, having lost its first minister, the Rev. Jenkin Jones,2 and 



iSee letters from Rev. Francis Pelot and Rev. Oliver Hart, addressed to Hezekiah Smith. 

2 Mr. Jones was born about 1690, in Wales, and came to this country in 1710. He took charge of 
the First Church of Philadelphia, May 15, 1746, at the time the church was reconstituted. Pre- 
vious to that time the Philadelphia body was only a branch of the Lower Dublin Church, of which 
Mr. Jones had been pastor for twenty-one years. He died July 16, 1761. See Cathcart's Encyclo- 
paedia. 



1756-1768. AND MANNING. 15 

being composed mostly of Welsh people, he was importuned to come to America. . . . 
He was a man of learning and enterprise and public spirit. He projected the establish- 
ment of a college for the Baptists, and went to England and Ireland to solicit funds for 
the erection of Brown University, at Providence, Rhode Island. In this he was largely 
successful, and so that Institution owes its existence in a measure to him. 

He lost his wife (daughter of Joshua Nunn, of Cork, Ireland), soon after the birth of 
her eighth child, suddenly, but not unexpectedly to her, for she had lived for years 
under the impression that at that, time she would die. The effect upon him was dis- 
tressing. He was seized with the impression that he now understood a dream he 
had fifteen years before, and that it intimated to him the year, and perhaps the day of 
his own death. He preached and printed a sermon expressing his exiiectation that his 
end was nigh, but he lived after this twenty-five years. "^ A distinguished Quaker min- 
ister, Pemberton, came to him and said: — " Thy dream will come true — this year is 
the death of thy ministry." It was so; — he resigned the pastoral office and never 
preached regularly afterwards, though occasionally he lectured, as he called the read- 
ing of sermons. When the Revolution commenced, being a man of note and very 
sarcastic, and having declared himself bound by his oath of allegiance to maintain the 
king's cause, he became very unpopular. The Committee of Safety ordered him to be 
secured as a dangerous person. Colonel Miles, the Chairman of the Committee, took 
Mr. Edwards privately to his house and hid him, and then expedited the officers with 
the warrant for his apprehension. Orders went at once to Philadelphia, to examine his 
son Joshua as to the place of his father's concealment. He knew nothing of it. 

This must have been some time after Morgan Edwards's recantation, 
as Joshua was at that date only five years and nine months old. The 
following extract from President Manning's diary, is of interest, show- 
ing Mr. Edwards's relations to Manning, Samuel Jones and Colonel 
Miles : — " Philadelphia, Tuesday, Aug. 10th, 1779. Mr. Edwards, in 
company with Jones and myself, set out for Colonel Miles. Distance 



iDr.Regers gives the title of this remarkable discourse as follows : — "A New Year's Gift; a 
sermon preached in this house, January 1, 1770, from these words, This year thou shall die." It 
passed through four editions and naturally attracted much attention. The excellent Geo. White- 
field, Dr. Rogers adds in a note, had a similar delusion in respect to a child whom he named John, 
before its birth, who, he believed and predicted was to be a preacher of the everlasting gospel, 
but who instead died in infancy. The full title of this discourse, which I give from a copy in the 
College Library, reads as follows:— "A New Year's Gift. Being a sermon delivered at Philadel- 
phia, on January 1, 1770; and published for rectifying some wrong reports, and presenting others 
of the same sort ; but chiefly for the sake of giving it another chance of doing good to them who 
heard it. By Rev. Morgan Edwards, A. M., Fellow of Rhode Island College, and minister of the 
Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Printed by Joseph Crukshank, in Second Street." 



16 :j BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. 

thirteen miles. Arrived in the evening, and he and lady next morning 
from town. He has a most elegant seat, gardens, meadows, etc., and a 
most remarkable spring, which turns three wheels in one fourth of a 
mile from its source. Spent three days very agreeably, and on the 13th 
set out for town, Mr. Edwards returning with Mr. Jones." 

The following is Mr. Edwards's recantation, which we take from Dr. 
Armitage's history : — 

At a meeting of the Committee of White Clay Creek, at Mr. Henry Darby's, in New 
York, Ang. 7, 1775, William Patterson, Esq., being in the chair. Rev. Morgan Edwards 
attended and signed the following recantation, which was voted satisfactory, namely: — 

"Whereas, I have some time since frequently made use of rash and imprudent 
expressions with respect to the conduct of my fellow-countrymen, who are now engaged 
in a noble and patriotic struggle for the liberties of America, against the arbitrary 
measures of the British ministry; which conduct has justly raised their resentment 
against me, I now confess that I have spoken wrong, for which I am sorry and ask for- 
giveness of the public. And I do promise that for the future I will conduct myself in 
such a manner as to avoid giving offense, and at the same time, in justice to myself, 
declare that I am a friend of the present measures pursued by the friends of Ameri- 
can liberty, and do approve of them, and, so far as is in myp'ower, will endeavor to pro- 
mote them." 

The extracts from the funeral sermon of Joshua Edwards, further 
state, that when he was about ten years old his father married the 
widow of Washington Nathaniel Evans, a wealthy proprietor of the 
Welsh Tract in Delaware, and that he went to reside on her property in 
Newark. This was in the year 1780. Previous to this, according to 
Dr. Rogers, he had married for his second wife a Mrs. Singleton, of 
Delaware. The remains of Morgan Edwards, Dr. Armitage states, 
were at first buried in the Baptist meeting-house. La Grange Place, 
between Market and Arch Streets, Philadelphia. They now^ rest in 
Mount Moriah Cemetery. 

Dr. Rogers, who in 1772 succeeded Mr. Edwards as pastor of the 
church in Philadelphia, preached the funeral sermon to which we have 
referred, from the text selected by the deceased, in 2 Cor., vi. 8 : — 
"By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 17 

and yet true." The following extracts may fitly close our account of 
the first " mover " in the enterprise of founding a college : — 

i/o/io?' Mr. Edwards certainly had, both in Europe and America. The College and 
Academy of Philadelphia, at a very early period, honored him as a man of learning and 
a poiiular preacher, with a diploma, constituting him a Master of Arts ; this was fol- 
lowed by a degree ad eunclem, in the year 1769, from the College of Rhode Island, being 
the first Commencement in that Institution. In this Seminary he held a Fellowship, 
and filled it with reputation, till he voluntarily resigned it in 1789; age and distance 
having rendered him incapable of attending the meetings of the Corporation any 
longer. 

He also met with dishonor ; but he complained not much of this, as it was occasioned 
by his strong attachment to the Royal Family of Great Britain, in the beginning of the 
American war, which fixed on him the name of a Tory ; this I should have omitted 
mentioning, had not the deceased expressly enjoined it upon me. For any person to 
have been so marked out in those days was enough to bring on political opposition and 
destruction of property ; all of which took place with respect to Mr. Edwards, though 
he never harbored the thought of doing the least injiiry to the United States by abetting 
the cause of our enemies. 

He had the oversight of this church for many years ; voluntarily resigned his office 
when he found the cause, which was so near and dear to his heart, sinking under his 
hands, but continued preaching to the people till they obtained another minister, the 
person who now addresses you, in the procuring of whom he was not inactive. 

After this, Mr. Edwards purchased a plantation in Newark, New Castle County, 
State of Delaware, and moved thither with his family in the year 1772; he continued 
preaching the Word of Life and salvation in a number of vacant churches till the com- 
mencement of the American war. He then desisted, and remained silent till after the 
termination of our Revolutionary troubles, and a consequent reconciliation with this 
church ; he then occasionally read lectures in divinity in this city, and other parts of 
Pennsylvania; also in New Jersey, Delaware, and in New England; but for very 
particular and affecting reasons could never be prevailed upon to resume the sacred 
character of a minister. 

Dr. Rogers speaks of Mr. Edwards as a "peculiar but worthy 
man." His leaving the ministry after preaching the remarkable ser- 
mon to which we have referred, his sympathy with the English in the 
Revolutionary struggle, and his impulsive methods of speech and action, 
doubtless created distrust in the minds of his brethren, and impaired for 



18 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. 

the time his usefulness. Dr. Rippon, of London, in a letter to President 
Manning, asks, in reference to the apostasy of "Winchester, a former 
Baptist minister of Philadelphia, — "Is it true that Morgan Edwards 
has printed a book in vindication of him. ? " To this Manning, under 
date of Aug 3, 1784, replies : — "Mr. Morgan Edwards has not printed 
in vindication of his principles, but he read me a manuscript, more than 
a year since on that subject, which he did not own though charged with 
being the author. He did not deny it, whereby he was entreated not 
to add the printing of this to the long list of imprudent things wliich 
had so greatly grieved his friends and injured his reputation." 

On the 12th of October, 1762, the annual meeting of the Philadel- 
phia Association was held in the meeting-house of the Lutheran church, 
on Fifth Street. Here, in the quaint language of the record, "the 
sound of the organ was heard in the Baptist worship." The Rev. Mor- 
gan Edwards presided as Moderator, and the Rev. Abel Morgan served 
as Clerk. Of the twenty-nine Churches belonging to the Association, 
eighteen were represented by delegates, including not a few prominent 
and influential pastors and laymen, whose praises have been recorded 
by the pen of a master^ in his "Annals of the American Pulpit," and 
more recently in the "Baptist Encyclopsedia." The seats of the 
spacious house were filled with devout men and women, who engaged 
with delight in the exercises of the prolonged sessions. A spirit of 
calmness and deliberation breathed in their consultations, and peaceful 
unanimity characterized all their determinations. Such is the tenor of 
thie customary "Pastoral Address," or, as it is now called, the "Circu- 
lar Letter."^ 

It was at this memorable meeting of the Association that a motian 
was made by the Moderator for the establishment of a Baptist college. 
No formal action was taken, so far as the records show, but the matter 
was without doubt thoroughly discussed, and the co-operation and 



1 Rev. Dr. William B. Sprague. Vol. 6. Baptists. 

2 A copy of tlie minutes of the Philadelpliia Association from 1707 to 1807, edited by the Rev. Dr. 
A. D. Gillette, and published by the American Baptist Publication Society, 8vo, Phila., 1851, is in the 
Library of the University. Also a set of the original minutes in several quarto volumes. These 
minutes contain the Pastoral Addresses. 



1756-1763. A>;D MANNING. 19 

assistance of prominent brethren were pledged, notwithstanding the 
difficulties and obstacles in the way of an enterprise of such magnitude 
and importance. "The first mover for it in 1762," says Edwards,^ 
" was laughed at as the projector of a thing impracticable. Nay, many 
of the Baptists themselves discouraged the design, prophesying evil to 
the churches in case it should take place, from an unhappy prejudice 
against learning." Well might the Baptists as a body have hesitated 
to engage in so difficult and responsible an undertaking. The country 
at large was still, so to speak, in its infancy, with a population of less 
than three millions. Only one hundred and forty-two years had 
elapsed since the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock, and but little 
more than a century and a half since Smith and his adventurers landed 
at Jamestown. In the time intervening there had been exhausting 
wars with the Indians, and an incessant struggle for the bare necessities 
of living. In the Northern colonies shelter had to be sought from the 
storms and frosts of a rigorous climate. Food had to be gained mainly 
by the sweat of the brow, out of a soil in many parts not overfruitful, 
and everjrwhere needing labor and care. Farms had to be enclosed, 
roads to be built, and the nameless wants incident to a new settlement, 
in a country separated from civilized Europe by the broad Atlantic, to 
be supplied. All these things pressed heavily and sorely upon a people, 
but few of whom were blessed with wealth, leaving them little time and 
still less means for books and schools and colleges. The Baptists, espec- 
ially, were poor. In the New England colonies they numbered at tliis 
time, according to Backus, but thirty-nine churches, including both 
General and Particular Baptists. The twenty-nine churches connected 
with the Philadelphia Association represented the colonies of Pennsyl- 
vania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. 
There were also churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, and 
Georgia, which afterwards formed the Charleston Association. It is 
within bounds to state, that in all the thirteen colonies there were at 
this time less than seventy regularly constituted churches, with a total 

1 " Materials for a History of the Baptists of Rhode Island." See Staples's Annals of Providence, 
page 519; Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society, Vol. VI., page 348. 



20 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. 1. 

membership of perhaps five thousand. What could such a people do 
towards the establishment of a higher seat of learning? — without 
wealth, and without social or political influence ; in many places, as we 
have already stated, fined, scourged, and imprisoned for their religious 
opinions, and everywhere, save in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, 
Maryland, and Rhode Island, "scorned," and like their Divine Master, 
"rejected of men." 

On the other hand, churches of the Baptist faith were rapidly multi- 
plying. The good sense and better judgment of the people, notwith- 
standing the perversion of schools and learning by the " Standing 
Order," demanded ministers who, in addition to the gifts and graces of 
the Hol}^ Spirit, possessed the aids of literary and scientific culture. 
The Academy at Hopewell, although eminently prosperous and success- 
ful, was yet but a preparatory school. The two colleges of New 
England, Harvard and Yale, were controlled exclusively by the Congre- 
gationalists, and were especially unfriendly at this period to Anabaptists 
and " New Lights," or revivalists. The College of New Jersey, at 
Princeton, had been established by Presbyterians, while Columbia of 
New York, William and Mary of Virginia, and the University of 
Pennsylvania were under Episcopal control. These were the only 
American colleges in existence at the time of which we speak. Not- 
withstanding the indifference of some and the opposition of others, 
there were pastors of strong faith and determined will, like Morgan 
Edwards, Samuel Jones, Isaac Sutton, Abel Morgan, John Gano and 
Isaac Eaton, and influential laymen like Mayor Stites, of Elizabethtown, 
and John Hart, of Hopewell, the signer of the immortal Declaration, who 
were ready to embark in the proposed enterprise. "And hereby," says 
Backus, referring especially to the " travels and labors of our Southern 
fathers and brethren," in New England, "the Philadelphia Association 
obtained such an acquaintance with our affairs, as to bring them to an 
apprehension that it was practicable and expedient to erect a college in 
the colony of Rhode Island, under the chief direction of the Baptists, 
wherein education might be promoted, and superior learning obtained, 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 21 

free of any sectarian religions tests. Mr. James Manning, who took 
his first degree in New Jersey College in September, 1762, was 
esteemed a suitable leader in this important work."^ 

From the foregoing accounts we see clearly, that the "beginnings " 
in the history of Rhode Island College, now Brown University, are 
found in connection with the Philadelphia Association. Pausing in 
our narrative, we may introduce here the following extracts from the 
records of the Association, showing a continued interest in the Institu- 
tion which it had been instrumental in bringing into being : — 

1764. Agreed, To inform the churches to which we respectively belong, that, inas- 
much as a charter is obtained in Rhode Island Government toward erecting a Baptist 
College, the churches should be liberal in contributing toward carrying the same into 
execution. 1766. Agreed, To recommend warmly to our churches the interest of the 
College, for which a subscription is opened all over the continent. This College hath 
been set on foot upwards of a year, and has now in it three promising youths under the 
tuition of President Manning. 1767. Agreed, That the Rev. Isaac Eaton, and John 
Hart, Esq., executors of Mrs. Hobbs's- will, be allowed to pay fourteen pounds toward 
the education of Charles Thompson, student in Rhode Island College, out of the interest 
of the legacy left by said Mrs. Hobbs for the use of the Association in Philadelphia. 
Agreed, That the churches be requested to forward the subscription for Rhode Island 
College. 1769. We received pleasing accounts from Rhode Island College. Seven 
commenced this Fall. The colony has raised twelve hundred pounds toward the build- 
ing, which will be begun early in the Spring. About one thousand pounds, lawful 
currency of New England, have been sent us from home (Great Britain) toward making 
up a salary for the President ; and all the ministers of the Association have implicitly 
engaged to exert themselves in endeavoring to raise money for the same purpose. 
Resolved, That the moneys which may be raised in the Provinces of New York, New 
Jersey and Pennsylvania, shall be put to interest in those Provinces, and not taken out 
of either, except the interest, which shall be subject to the order of the College to pay 
the President's salary, and for no other use. The persons appointed for receiving the 
donations are : in New York, the Rev. John Gano; in the Jerseys, John Stites, Esq.; 
in Pennsylvania, the Rev. Morgan Edwards. They are to see that the securities be 



1 History of the Baptists. Edition of 1871. Vol. 2, pp. 137 and 347. 

'Mrs. Elizabeth Hobbs, widow of John Hobbs, who died March 26, 1767, aged upwards of eighty 
years. She left a legacy of £350 for the education of pious youths for the ministry, and also a hand- 
some bequest to the Hopewell Church of which she was a member. See article by Dr. S. S. Cutting, 
in the Examiner for Dec. 1, 1864. 



22 BEOWN UNIYEESITY Chap. I. 

sufficient, and that the bonds, mortgages, etc., he deposited with the Treasurer of the 
College. Voted, That fourteen pounds, Jersey currency, be given to Mr. Thomas 
Ustick, towards defraying his expenses at the College. 

Entries like these continue to appear in the records. In 1774, the 
Charleston Association proposed a plan for raising funds, which was 
adopted by the Philadelphia Association, and also by the Warren. 
This plan was, in the language of the records, "recommending to every 
member to pay sixpence sterling, annually, for three years successively, 
to their Elder, or some suitable person ; this money to be paid to the 
Treasurer of the College." At the same time, says Benedict, the Rev. 
Messrs. John Gano, of New York, and Oliver Hart and Francis Pelot, 
of South Carolina, were appointed to address the Baptist Associations 
throughout America, and urge their co-operation in these efforts to raise 
funds for the College. The war which soon afterwards broke out, 
arrested of course these efforts. We may be amused, as we read such 
records, at the gravity with which an organized body of men could 
recommend the payment of so small a sum as sixpence, toward endow- 
ing an institution of learning, especially when we contrast it with the 
princely benefactions of later days. They illustrate what has already 
been stated respecting the poverty of the country at large, and espec- 
ially of the Baptists. 

Mr. James Manning, who, according to Backus " was esteemed a 
suitable leader in the important work of erecting a college in the 
Colony of Rhode Island," was born on the 22d of October, 1738, in 
Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey. This was originally a 
part of the " Elizabethtown Grant," so-called, and hence his birthplace is 
sometimes called Elizabethtown. The story of his life is the history of 
the College. Concerning his parentage and ancestors we have had 
until recently but little authentic information. Of late years Mr. 
Oliver B. Leonard, City Clerk of Plainfield, New Jersey, whose wife is 
a descendant of the Mannings and the Stelles, has made a careful study 
of the colonial history of his state, and of the beginnings of Baptist 
history in America. Through his researches in probate courts, town 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 23 

records, deeds, conveyances, church registers and family Bibles, he has 
been enabled to ascertain the genealogy and history of the families to 
which he is related, the results of which he has kindly placed at the 
writer's disposal and for which grateful acknowledgments are hereby 
tendered. 

James, the father of the subject of our sketch, was a prosperous and 
intelligent farmer, who owned a plantation between Plainfield and New 
Brunswick, his farm being watered by the little stream known as Cedar 
Brook. His residence was not far from the little village of Brooklin 
and Samp town, adjoining the lands of Nathaniel Drake and Benjamin 
Laing. He was the son of James and Christiana (Laing) Manning, 
and the grandson of Jeffrey, one of the earliest settlers in the Piscata- 
way township. His will, which is on record in the Prerogative Court 
at Trenton, is dated Dec. 26, 1766. It names as executors his sons 
Jeremiah and Joseph, and his son-in-law Joseph Tingley, and mentions 
his children in the disposition of his real estate, all of whom were living 
excepting a daughter, Mrs. Woodi-uff. 

Grace, the mother, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Drake) Fitz 
Randolph, was one of thirteen children, most of whom married and 
reared large families. Judging from the character of him whose life we 
are considering, and from the fact that most of her cliildren became 
members of the church before they had attained their majority, she 
was a woman of superior moral and mental endowments ; one who 
exemplified in her daily life the happy and sanctifying influences 
of the Christian religion. James thus enjoyed all those advantages 
which are derived from the watchful care of sensible, well-to-do, 
and religious parents. To their counsel and example he was indebted 
for those principles of right conduct, and those cultivated moral sensi- 
bilities, which saved his youth from frivolity and vice, and to which, ere 
he had attained to manhood, God was pleased to add the regenerating 
influences of his Holy Spirit. His maternal grandparents, it may be 
added, lived in Piscataway township, and belonged to the Baptist 
church. His grandfather died in 1750, leaving by will fifty pounds to 
each of his surviving daughters, Grace, Prudence and Rebecca, and 



24 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. 

giving his land to his sons Ephraim, Jeremiah, Paul, Thomas, and 
Joseph. 

Seven children constituted the family of James and Grace Manning, 
viz. : Christiana, who married Joseph Tingley, and lived in Samptown ; 
Jeremiah, who was thrice married, and lived in Bonham and afterwards 
in Bordentown ; Enoch, who married Janet Edgar and died in Feb- 
ruary, 1791 ; Joseph, who in 1777 was elected a ruling Elder in the 
Scotch Plains Baptist Church, and was thrice married; John, who 
married Sarah van Pelt and settled on a farm in Somerset County ; a 
younger sister, who married a Woodruff and died previous to 1766 ; 
and James, the President of Rhode Island College. These are all men- 
tioned by him in his diaries and correspondence. Concerning young 
Manning's school-boy days, but little can now be ascertained. He 
probably enjoyed better advantages than most lads of that early colonial 
period. Elizabethtown, then the chief city of New Jersey, and the 
centre of comparative wealth and refinement, was but ten miles from 
his home. Here Dickinson resided, the first president of the College 
of New Jersey, and here were the beginnings of that now celebrated 
school of learning. Five miles to the south of him was New Brunswick, 
the present capital of Middlesex County, and the seat of Rutgers 
College. Whatever schools he attended, it is certain that he was 
thoroughly taught the elementary branches of knowledge. He was an 
accomplished reader, an excellent penman and a good speller. His 
manuscript writings furnish abundant evidence of his proficiency in this 
latter useful, though too often neglected, "rudiment." These may be 
regarded as matters of trivial importance, yet they show that he did not 
neglect his early opportunities for instruction. 

At the age of eighteen he left the parental roof to prepare for college 
at the Hopewell Academy, under the instruction of Mr. Eaton, being, 
it is said, his first pupil. Here under the guidance of his faithful and 
beloved teacher, he became the subject of renewing grace. How much 
the prayers of pious loved ones at home contributed towards his conver- 
sion, and how great an influence was thus exerted upon the destiny of 
multitudes in his after career, eternity alone will reveal. A striking 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 25 

instance of the importance of prayer in behalf of colleges and academies 
is here presented. Little did the principal of the infant academy 
realize how greatly the interests of learning and religion were to be 
affected by the conversion to God of this promising youth. In the sub- 
sequent relations of Manning to the Latin School, the College and the 
Church, both at Warren and at Providence, the results of his academic 
training at Hopewell are clearly recognized. 

Having finished his preparatory studies, he returned to his home 
where he made a public profession of religion. He was baptixed by the 
Rev. Benjamin Miller, who had been for many years pastor of the 
Scotch Plains Baptist Church. Mr. Miller was a native of Scotch 
Plains, who had been converted under the preaching of the celebrated 
Gilbert Tennent, and by him encouraged to enter the ministry. He 
was ordained on the 13th of February, 1748. Here he continued until 
his death in 1780, a good, laborious and successful minister. "Never," 
said the Rev. John Gano, who preached his funeral sermon, " did I 
esteem a ministering brother so much as I did Mr. Miller, nor feel so 
sensibly a like bereavement as that which I sustained by his death." 
This is high praise, coming from one who was an acknowledged leader 
in the Baptist denomination. It is pleasant to note thus the religious 
influences that surrouuded the future President. 

Soon after his baptism. Manning, being now twenty years of age, 
was admitted into the College of New Jersey, now Princeton Univer- 
sity, as a member of the Freshman Class. This flourishing institution 
of learning had been founded in 1746, under the auspices of the Synod 
of New York,^ representing, it is well known, that branch of the Presby- 

^ Ex-President Maclean, the learned historian of the college (2 vols., 8vo, Phila., 1877), thus 
■writes : — " The first efforts for the erection of a college in New Jersey have an intimate connection 
with the first schism in the Presbyterian church. This schism began in 1741, with the separation of 
the Presbytery of New Brunswick from the Synod of Philadelphia. It was consummated in 1745, 
by the withdrawal of the Presbytery of New York, from the same Synod, then the only one; and by 
the organization of a new Synod, under the title of The SY>fOD of New York, in the autumn of 
that year." Jonathan Dickinson, of Elizabethtown, the first president of the college, had been the 
acknowledged leader of the old Synod of Philadelphia, and he became no less the leader of the 
new Synod now formed. He was the intimate friend of Whitefield, who, on one occasion, visited 
him and preached in his parish. " He," says Sprague in his 'Annals,' "had more to do with origi- 
nating the College of New Jersey than any other man." 

4 



26 BROWN UNIVEESITY Chap. I. 

terian church, which sympathized, as did in general the Baptists, with 
Whitefield and Tennent, and aided in the promotion of revivals.^ The 
first location was Elizabethtown, whence it was removed to Newark, 
where it remained eight years. In 1756 it was removed to Princeton, 
its present location, where Nassau Hall, one of the largest and finest 
structures of the kind in the colonies, had been erected for its use. 
This afterwards served as a model for our present "University Hall." 

At the time of Manning's entrance to college, the institution had no 
presiding officer. President Burr had died on the 24th of September, 
1757. His successor, Jonathan Edwards, lived only five weeks after 
taking the oath of office. The Rev. Samuel Davies, who was the fourth 
president, was a man distinguished for his wisdom, piety and eloquence. 
Indeed, he has been regarded, and justly perhaps, as the prince of 
American preachers. His patriotic sermons, when a pastor in Virginia, 
are said to have produced effects as powerful as those ascribed to the 
orations of Demosthenes.^ It was to him, doubtless, that Manning, 
and his classmate, the celebrated Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, were 
largely indebted for the model and inspiration of that popular and 
effective style of preaching, which make them pre-eminent among the 
Baptist divines of their day. Mr. Davies, after a most successful 
career of eighteen montlis, as president of the college, died in February, 



1 It has been stated, says Maclean, that the College owes its origin to the expulsion of David 
Brainard and John Cleaveland from Yale College in consequence of their attending meetings of the 
" New Lights," as revivalists were then called. It is a significant fact that three of the men who 
were most conspicuous in their sympathy with and efforts for Brainard, and in labors to promote 
revivals, were Jonathan Dickinson, Aaron Burr and Jonathan Edwards, the first three presidents 
of the College. 

- His " Sermons," to which are prefixed a sermon on his death, by his successor, Samuel Finley, 
and another discourse on the same occasion, together with an Elegiac Poem to his memory, by the 
Rev. Dr. Thomas Gibbons, were published in London, iii five octavo volumes. A fine copy, second 
and third editions, is in the Library of Brown University. Mr. Davies spent the early part of his 
professional life in Virginia, preaching to destitute churches in Hanover County, maintaining the 
cause of the Dissenters, and laboring persistently to secure the religious liberties of his people 
against the bigotry iand tyranny of their oppressors. He was thus a warm friend of the 
Baptists. The distinguished Patrick Henry, who was born in Hanover County, was one of his 
hearers, and an enthusiastic admirer of him and his opinions. In 1753 Mr. Davies had been chosen 
by the Synod of New York, at the instance of the Trustees of the College, to accompany the Rev. 
Gilbert Tennent to Great Britain to solicit benefactions for the young institution. This service he 
performed with singular spirit and success. 



1756-1763. AND MANNmG. 27 

1761. The following letter from the Rev. Oliver Hart, whose acquaint- 
ance Manning had formed while a student at the Hopewell Academy, 
may fitly be introduced in this connection. Mr. Hart was a leading 
Baptist at the South, the founder of the " Charleston Baptist Associa- 
tion," and also of " The ReHgious Society " to aid pious young men in 
their studies for the ministry, one of whose beneficiaries was the famous 
Dr. Stillman, who afterwards labored so efficiently with Manning and 
Smith, in efforts to advance the interests of Rhode Island College : — 

Charleston, April 17, 1761. 
Mt Dear Friend : — 

I received your kind letter of the 1st of March, ult., together with President Davies's 
sermon on the death of his late Majesty, — for which favors I return my most unfeigned 
thanks. You intimate that you have written me several letters heretofore. I 
received only one of them as near as I can remember, about two years ago, and 
to which I returned an answer by the first opportunity. I lament with you (and surely 
all the friends of Zion must mourn) the loss of the justly celebrated President Davies. 
Oh, what floods of sorrow must have overwhelmed the minds of many, when it 
was echoed from house to house and from village to village, as in the dismal sound of 
hoarse thunder, President Davies is no more! Oh, sad and melancholy dispensation! 
Arise, all ye sons of pity, and mourn with those that mourn. And thou, my soul, let 
drop the flowing tear while commiserating the bereaved and distressed. Alas for the 
dear woman, whose beloved is taken away with a stroke! May Jesus be her husband, 
her strength, and her stay. Alas for the bereaved children ! May their father's God be 
their God in covenant. Alas for the church of Christ ! Deprived of one of the principal 
pillars, how grievous the stroke to thee! But Jesus, thy head and foundation, ever 
lives. 

And thou, Nassau Hall, lately so flourishing, so promising, under the auspicious 
management of so worthy a president — what might we not have expected from thee! 
But alas ! How is the mighty fallen in thee ! How doth the large and beautiful house 
appear as a widow in sable weeds! And thy sons, lately so gay and pleasant, as well 
as promising and contented — how do they retire into their apartments, and there with 
bitter sighs, heavy groans, and broken accents, languish out. My Father, My Father! — 
the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! But I can write no more. 

Yours affectionately, 

Oliver Hart. 



28 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. 1. 

President Davies was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, 
who entered upon the duties of his office in July, 1761. By him Man- 
ning was taught in his senior year, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. He 
was a man of extensive learning, and remarkable for sweetness of dis- 
position and politeness of behavior. In the early years of his ministry 
he had labored with Whitefield and Tennent, in promoting the great 
revival of religion which was at that period so remarkable throughout 
the country. While a pastor at Nottingham, in Maryland, he had 
established an acadeni}'- which acquired a great reputation. Under 
his instruction many youths received the rudiments of learning and 
correct moral sentiments. In his religious opinions he was called a 
Calvinist. Other instructors of Manning were Tutors Halsey, Treat, 
Ker, and Blair, all of whom afterwards became eminent clergymen. 
The last named. Dr. Samuel Blair, was in 1767 elected to the presidency 
of the college. He, however, declined the appointment. Such were 
the men to whom the future President was indebted for his academic 
and collegiate training. That they exerted a most important influence 
in developing his character, and in determining his subsequent career, 
no one will deny. 

Among the requirements for admission to the College of New 
Jersey was one obliging every student to transcribe the laws and cus- 
toms thereof, which copy, being signed by the president, was to be 
in testimony of his admission, and to be kept by him while in college, 
as a rule of his good behavior. Among the Smith papers is a copy of 
these laws, which are published in full in the life^ of Smith, as an illus- 
tration of the colonial times. " Laws," says Montesquieu, "in their most 
extensive sense, are the necessary relations arising from the nature of 
things. In this sense, all beings have their laws, the Deity his laws, 
the material world its laws, the intelligences superior to man their 
laws, man his laws, the beasts their laws." No apology need be 
required for introducing at this point extracts from these laws, espec- 



1 " Chaplain Smith and the Baptists ; or, Life, Journal, Letters and Addresses of the Rev. Heze- 
kiah Smith, D.D., of Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1737-1805." By Reuben A. Guild. 12mo. Phila., 
Amer. Bap. Pub. Soc, 1S85. 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 29 

ially as they formed the basis for the government and discipline of 
Rhode Island College : — 

Laws of the College of New Jersey. 

None may expect to be admitted into the College but such as having been examined 
by the President and Tutors, shall be found able to render Virgil and TuUy's Orations 
into English ; to turn English into true and grammatical Latin ; and so well acquainted 
with the Greek as to render any part of the four Evangelists in that language into Latin 
or English, and give the grammatical construction of the words. 

Such as are candidates for the degree of Bachelors, shall at some convenient time, 
before the public Commencement, submit to a strict and critical examination, before the 
President and as many of the Trustees as can conveniently attend, and any other gen- 
tleman of liberal education as shall see cause to be present; and upon their approbation, 
may expect to be admitted to the honors of the College. 

Those who have prosecuted their studies for three years, after obtaining their first 
degree, if they have not been scandalous in their lives and conversation, shall be 
admitted to the degree of Master of Arts. 

The President, or in his absence one of the Tutors, shall, morning and evening, read 
a portion of the Holy Scriptures, and pray with the students. 

Every student shall be obliged to give his attendance at all such religious exercises, 
and those that absent themselves, for every offense shall be punished in a fine of two 
pence, proc.,' and those who do not timely attend, one penny, unless detained by sick- 
ness, or some other excuse as shall be deemed sufficient. 

The students on every Lord's Day shall attend Divine Service in some place of public 
worship ; which, if they without sufficient excuse omit, shall be punished in a fine of 
four pence, proc. ;' and shall pay a religious regard to the Lord's Day by keeping in 
their rooms and not visiting, or admitting others into their company. And it is judged 
expedient and hereby ordered, that no student be out of his room on the evening next 
after Saturday, or next after Lord's Day, except for religious purposes, or some neces- 
sary occasion, under penalty of four pence for every offense. 

None of the students shall frequent taverns, or places of public entertainment, or 
keep company with persons of known scandalous lives, who will be likely to vitiate 
their morals. Those that practise contrary to this law, shall first be admonished, and 
if they still persist in such dangerous company, shall be expelled the College. 

None of the students shall play at cards, or dice, or any other unlawful game, upon 
the penalty of a fine not exceeding five shillings proc. for the first offense ; for the sec- 
ond public admonition; for the third expulsion. 



1 Proclamation money, six shillings to the dollar. 



30 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. 

None of the students shall be absent from their chambers without leave first obtained 
from the President or one of the Tutors, unless half an hour after morning prayer and 
recitations, an hour and a Jialf after dinners, and from evening prayer until seven 
o'clock, on the penalty of four pence proc. for each offense. 

If any scholar shall persist in the careless neglect of his studies, and shall not make 
suitable preparation for the stated recitations and other scholastic exercises appointed 
for his instruction, after due admonition he shall be expelled. 

Every student shall be obliged to pay for his tuition in the College the sum of fifteen 
shillings proc. every quarter. ^ 

Every one that is admitted to the honor of a degree shall pay thirty shillings proc. to 
the President of the College. 

The Tutors shall frequently visit their pupils in their chambers, to direct and 
encourage them in their studies, and see that they are diligently employed aboiit their 
proper business. 

No scholar shall be allowed to make any treat or entertainment in his chamber on 
any account, or have any private meals, without having first obtained leave of the 
President or Tutors. 

No jumping or hallooing or boisterous noise shall be suffered in the College at any 
time, or walking in the gallery in the time of study. 

No scholar shall spread abroad anything transacted in this house, which being pub- 
licly known may tend to injure the credit of this Institution or disturb the peace of the 
members. 

Every student shall pay four pence per quarter for study, rent, sweeping their room, 
and making their beds. And such as smoke or chew tobacco, five pence ; and one 
shilling for incidental charges. 

Customs. 

Every member of the College shall treat the authority of the same, and all superiors, 
in a becoming manner, paying that respect that is due to every one considered in his 
proper place. 

Every scholar shall keep his hat off about ten rods to the President and five to the 
Tutors. 

Every Freshman sent on an errand shall go and do it faithfully and make quick 
return. 

Every scholar shall rise up and make obeisance when the President goes in or out of 
the hall, or enters the pulpit on days of religious worship. 

When he first comes into the company of a superior, or in speaking to him, he shall 
show him respect by pulling off his hat. 



1 The yearly dues for tuition at Brown are now one hundred and five dollars, which is more than 
ten times the amount required at Princeton in the days of Manning. 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 31 

If called or spoken to by a superior, if within hearing, he shall give a direct and 
pertinent answer, with the word, Sir, at the end thereof. 

If overtaking a superior, or met by him going up or down a pair of stairs, he shall 
stop, giving him the banister side. 

No Freshman shall ever wear a gown. 

No member of College may appear abroad dressed in an indecent or slovenly man- 
ner, but must be entire and complete. 

No member of the College shall wear his hat in the College at any time, or appear in 
the dining room at meal time, in the hall at any public exercises, or knowingly in the 
presence of any of the authorities of the College, without an upper garment, and having 
shoes and stockings tight. 

The reader of these Laws and Customs will not fail to observe that 
college students in colonial days were accustomed to habits of obedi- 
ence, and of strict subjection to authority. While at Princeton, Man- 
ning occasionally returned to Hopewell and assisted Mr. Eaton in the 
instruction of the pupils under his care. Concerning his student life 
our information is very limited. He was remarkable for diligence and 
attention to his studies, — habits wliich gained for him a reputation for 
superior scholarship. In Rhetoric, Eloquence, Moral Philosophy, and 
the Classics, he especially excelled. He was fond of athletic exercise, 
and devoted many of his hours for recreation to manly and invigorating 
sports.' '•'■ Sana mens in sawo corpora," may have been his motto. In 
his conduct we may well believe that he was uniformly regular, thus 
maintaining a good standing with the officers of the college, and 
securing the friendship and esteem of his fellow students. 

He was graduated on the 29th of September, 1762, with the second 
honors of his class. This class consisted of twenty-one, and included 
some excellent scholars, who afterwards distinguished themselves in 



1 In his youth, says Judge Howell, who knew him well, he was remarkable for his dexterity in 
athletic exercises, for the symmetry of his body, and gracefulness of his person. Had he lived in 
our day he could easily have been captain of a base-ball nine or of a foot-ball club. In his maturer 
years lie weighed upwards of three hundred pounds. Concerning his bulk the Hon. Wm. Hunter, 
one of his pupils, thus writes :— " His motions and gestures were so easy and graceful, that ordi- 
nary observers thought not of his immense volume of flesh, and those who criticised, admired the 
manner in which it was spontaneously wielded. I do not know that he had ever read Hogarth's 
Analysis of Beauty, but he moved in his line of grace." 



32 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. I. 

their several professions and walks of life. Among them may be men- 
tioned the Rev. Hezekiah Smith, his life-long intimate friend, known 
as "the great man of Haverhill," and a distinguished chaplain in the 
War of the Revolution ; Ebenezer Hazard, who was the first Postmaster- 
General of the United States, after the adoption of the Federal Consti- 
tution, and published in two large quarto volumes a valuable collection 
of documents relating to American history ; Jonathan Dickinson Ser- 
geant, a member of the Continental Congress, and the first Attorney- 
General of Pennsylvania ; Rev. Joseph Periam, for several years a 
Tutor in the college, distinguished for his attainments in Mathe- 
matics and Metaphysics; Hugh Alison, a Presbyterian, minister; and 
Hon. Isaac Allen who was the Valedictorian. An account of the Com- 
mencement is given in the Pennsylvania G-azette^ and published in 
full in Maclean's Histor5^ The exercises were introduced by "an 
elegant salutatory oration," in Latin, by Manning. A copy of this 
oration, in the well known hand-writing of the author, is in our posses- 
sion. But for its length it would have been published, not as light or 
interesting reading, but as an illustration of the scholarship of the man, 
and the customs of the college. The parchment for his Bachelor's 
degree reads as follows : — 

Praeses et Curatores Collegii Neo-Csesariensis omnibtis et singulis has literas lec- 
turis Saliitem in Domino. Notum sit quod nobis placet auctoritate Eegio Diplomate 
commissa Jacobum Manning candidatum primum in Artibus gradum constitutum 
examine sufficiente prsevio approbatum titulo graduque artium liberaliuna Baccalaurei 
adonare ciijus sigillum comminus Collegii Neo-Csesariensis liiiic membrante affixum 
nominaque nostra subscripta testimonium sint. 

Datum Aulae Nassonicse in Nova Csesaria Samuel Finley, Prseses. 

tertio Calendas Octobris Anno ^rse Eichard Treat, \ 

Christi Millesimo Septingentesimo Israel Read, I 

Sexagessimo secundo. Caleb Smith, \ n ^ f , 

«0 ti/ (XZ07 Co* 
_.. , 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 33 

Reference has already been made to Manning's conversion at the 
Hopewell Academy, the special object of which institution was " the 
education of youth for the ministry." The influence of principal Eaton, 
and the example of such preachers as presidents Davies and Finley, 
combined with his own natural talents and inclinations, could hardly 
fail to turn his thoughts towards the ministry as his own profession and 
calling. Soon after graduation he was regularly "licensed" by the 
church of which he was a member. The following documents, mostly 
found among the Gano papers in the possession of the late Mrs. Eliza 
B. Rogers, will repay careful perusal : — 

The Church of Jesus Christ, meeting together at the Scotch Plains, in the County 
of Essex, and Province of New Jersey, professing Believer's Baptism, Laying on of 
Hands, Eternal Election, Final Perseverance, etc. 

And being met this first day of December, Anno Domini, 1762, have unanimously 
agreed to call James Manning, A. B., a member in full communion with us, to the trial 
of his ministerial gifts in this church, at our next meeting of business, or on the first 
convenient opportunity next following. 

Signed by us at our meeting of business, Benjamin Miller, Pastor. 

December 1, 1762. Recompense Stanburg, Elder. 

Samuel Drake, Elder. 
Samuel Doty, Elder. 
William Darby, Deacon. 

The "trial " was satisfactory, and a license to preach was cordially 
voted him two months later, as appears from the following carefully 
prepared document : — 

The Church of Jesus Christ at the Scotch Plains, maintaining the doctrine of 
Believer's Baptism, Laying on of Hands, Eternal Election, Special Vocation, and Final 
Perseverance, having called our loving brother, James Manning, A. B., to the trial of 
his ministerial gifts; and finding upon his improvement in preaching full satisfac- 
tion ; — we do hereby call and license him to preach publicly amongst us as often as 
opportunity shall present ; — And also we recommend him as one sound, regular, and 
qualified to preach the Gospel wherever he may have a legal call, either in our sister 
5 



34 



BROWN UNIVERSITY 



Chap. I. 



churches or associations, praying that the Divine blessing may be with him, and accom- 
pany his labors, to the glory of God, and the spiritual good of immortal souls. 



Signed at our meeting of business, 
February 6, .1763. 



Benjamin Miller, Pastor. 
Recompense Stanburg, Elder. 
Samuel Drake, Elder. 
Samuel Doty, Elder. 
"William Darby, Deacon. 



On the 23d of March following, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Margaret Stites, daughter of John Stites, Esq., of Elizabethtown. He 
had corresponded with her while a student in college. Under date of 
Aug. 23, 1759, he writes, urging upon her attention the subject of 
personal religion. This letter, which has recently come to light, we 
here present in part, as an illustration of the author's fervent piety and 
zeal, and as a part of his early life : — 

Affectionate Friend. 

Amongst the various pursuits of mankind, religion is the most noble, the most 
exalted, and the most worthy of our highest regard in efforts to obtain ; notwithstand- 
ing all the scoffs and jeers of an ungodly world. Seeing then, my dear Friend, that 
there is no greater happiness in this world, and no other way to arrive at happiness in 
the world to come, than by believing the record which God gave of his Son, and giving 
up ourselves to God wholly and unreservedly through a glorious Mediator, how watch- 
ful should we be, how earnestly should we cry day and night, that God would pardon 
all our sins, and receive us as righteous in his sight, through the imputed righteousness 
of Jesus Christ. 



The writer goes on to describe the nature of conversion, and the 
danger of those who neglect salvation, closing with an urgent, personal 
appeal. Whether his friend responded to this appeal is nowhere stated; 
she certainly did not make a profession of religion until some twelve 
years after her marriage. 

The father of Miss Stites was a prominent and wealthy lay member 
of the Baptist Church, and for several years Mayor or Chief Magistrate 
of Elizabethtown. His place of residence was Connecticut Farms, a 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 35 

delightful agricultural village four miles from Elizabethtown, and in 
his day a part of that borough. Some time previous to 1749, a num- 
ber of families from Connecticut had purchased a large tract of land 
and divided it into farms of a convenient size, giving this village its 
present name. Washington, it is said, when passing through this sec- 
tion, pronounced it the "garden of New Jersey," on account of its 
beauty and fertility. Here was the Stites home, which, before the dis- 
asters of the war, and while the owner was in affluent circumstances, 
was the centre of an abundant hospitality. Here Manning and his wife 
were always welcome guests. 

Concerning the ancestry of the Stites family but little can be ascer- 
tained. William, the father of John, moved from Hampstead, Long 
Island, to Springfield, a small village in Essex County, six miles from 
Elizabethtown. This was in 1727, as appears from a date on his tomb- 
stone in the old burying ground. He had a son named William who 
resided in Elizabethtown, to whom Manning refers as his "uncle " under 
date of 1779.^ John was the oldest son. From the few facts at hand 
concerning him, it is evident that he was a man of ability and of widely 
extended influence. In the minutes of the Philadelphia Association, 
under date of 1769, it is recorded that he was appointed by that body 
to receive donations in the Jerseys for Rhode Island College. His three 
sons were all educated at the Hopewell Academy. Furthermore he 
was the father-in-law of two of the most prominent men in the Baptist 
denomination. He died in 1782, as appears from a letter to Judge 
Howell, dated November 19th, in which Manning speaks of Dr. Dayton 
as "the acting Executor of his father-in-law's estate."^ The mother's 
maiden name does not appear. She died in 1784, two years after her 
husband's decease. In a letter to Dr. Smith, dated July 3d, Manning 
speaks of his wife as having sailed on the 27th ultimo, " to enjoy the last 
interview with her dear Mamma, just about to leave us by a consump- 
tion."3 



1 Manning and Brown University, page 280. 
^ Ibid, page 292. 
» Ibid, page 336. 



36 BROWN" UNIVERSITY Chap. I. 

Seven children constituted the Stites household, viz., Mary; Heze- 
kiah, a physician who resided at Cranberry, and died in 1797 ; Sarah, 
who married the Rev. John Gano ; Margaret, who married Manning ; 
John, a physician, and afterwards a merchant, to whom Manning 
in his correspondence refers as a resident of New York ;^ and Richard, 
the youngest, who was one of the first graduates of Rhode Island Col- 
lege ; he was killed in battle at Long Island, being captain of a com- 
pany under Gen. Nathan ael Greene. 

Manning's marriage proved a source of great domestic felicity. The 
wife possessed those elegant accomplishments and superior qualities 
which well accorded with her husband's character, and happily fitted 
her for the discharge of duties inseparable from public positions of honor 
and usefulness. She was also lovely and attractive in person, if one 
may judge from her portrait, which hangs beside that of her husband in 
Sayles Memorial Hall.^ The blessings of offspring were, however, denied 
them. She survived her beloved companion many years, and after a 
long and retired widowhood, died in Providence, Nov. 9, 1815, at the 
advanced age of seventy-five. At the time of their marriage she was 
not, as has already been stated, a professor of religion. During a pow- 
erful- revival under her husband's preaching, in 1775, she became a 
hopeful convert, and was received into the fellowship of the Baptist 
Church. The joys and consolations of a well-grounded hope in Christ 
thus comforted her in her bereavement, soothed her declining years, 
and cheered her djdng hours. 

On the 19th of April, a few weeks after his marriage. Manning was 
publicly ordained and set apart for his chosen work, as a preacher and 
an evangelist. The sermon on the occasion was preached by his 
brother-in-law, the Rev. John Gano, who had but recently been settled 
over the newly-constituted Baptist Church in New York. His teacher 
and spiritual guide at the Academy, the Rev. Isaac Eaton, gave the 



1 Manning and Brown University, page 355. 

2 This portrait was bequeathed to Brown University by Miss Maria Benedict, a daughter of Rev. 
Dr. David Benedict, and a niece of Mrs. Eliza B. Rogers, whose property she inherited. Dr. Man- 
ning's portrait was bequeathed by Mrs. Manning, in her will, recorded November, 1815. 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 37 

charge, and his beloved friend, the Rev. Isaac Stelle,^ of Piscataway, 
made the ordaining prayer. 

By the following letter from the Rev. Oliver Hart, it appears that he 
was invited about this time to settle in Charleston, South Carolina, as 
assistant pastor of the Baptist Church. This invitation, fortunately for 
the interests of learning and religion in New England, he felt obliged 
to decline, having already entered upon the great educational work, to 
which his future was to be consecrated : — 

Charleston, June 20, 1763. 
Dear Mr. Manning: 

A few days ago I had the pleasure to forward a call to you, from this church, to 
come over and assist me in breaking the bread of life to the dear people of my charge. 
I hope enough has been said to induce you to come over to this " delightful region," if I 
may use your own words. Since I wrote you last, I have received letters from Mr. 
Gauo, who informs me that you are married, ordained, and not settled ; and that you 
intend a journey to the eastward before you settle anywhere. I assure you that this 
gives me hope that you will settle to the southward, seeing you aire not yet engaged. 

I congratulate you on your having entered into a new state of life, and hope you will 
enjoy all the comforts whi«h the married state can afford. I welcome you into the vine- 
yard of the Lord as one of his laborers. You are now an ambassador for the King of 
Kings. I doubt not but that a sense of the importance of the work lies with weight 
upon your mind. Well, he who is the Lord our righteousness is also the Lord o«r 
strength. I have only to say, I hope God will send you upon an embassy to this place, 
where you will be welcomed to my heart, to my house, and to my people, and where you 
will have a hopeful prospect of doing much good. 

Remember me in kind love to your other self. Tell her I wish her joy in her new 
state, and hope for the pleasure of saluting her in Charleston, where many whose ambi- 
tion will be to make her happy will rejoice to see her. If the call should happen by any 
means to miscarry, pray look upon this as one, and do not engage until you receive a 
duplicate of that already sent. I wish you great grace, and am 

Yours in Jesus, 

Oliver Hart. 



1 Mr. Stelle was the son of Benjamin Stella, a worthy magistrate, who for many years was pastor 
of the Piscataway Church. Upon the death of his father in 1759, Isaac succeeded to the pastoral 
office, continuing in it until his death in 1781. His son Benjamin was educated at the Hopewell 
Academy, and graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1766. He came to Providence soon after- 
wards and established a Latin School, as is learned from a letter of President Manning to David 
Howell. The late Hon. Nicholas Brown, as has been previously noted, married a daughter of Mr 
Stelle for his second wife. 



38 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. 

An account of the Rev. John Gano, to whom Mr. Hart here alludes, 
and whose name so frequently recurs throughout these pages, who was 
so intimately associated with Manning in his efforts to promote the 
cause of sound learning and ministerial education, may fitly close this 
chapter. He was regarded by Baptists in his day as a "star of the 
first magnitude," a " prince among the hosts of Israel." Possessed of 
superior natural talents and a great knowledge of human nature, he 
adapted himself with singular readiness to the varied circumstances of 
his eventful life. His ancestors were Huguenots. Francis Gerneaux, 
as the name was originally spelled, was his great-grandfather. He 
escaped from the island of Guernsey during the bloody persecution that 
arose in consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and, 
arriving in this country, settled at New Rochelle, where he died at the 
extraordinary age of one hundred and three years. John was born at 
Hopewell, New Jersey, July 22, 1727. He was therefore Manning's 
senior by eleven years and upwards. His parents were eminently pious, 
and from his earliest years he was faithfully instructed in the great 
principles of religion. At the age of twenty-eight he was united in 
marriage to Miss Sarah Stites, who proved to be a most agreeable com- 
panion, and an efficient auxiliary to his usefulness. Eleven children — 
seven sons and four daughters — were the fruits of this union; one of 
whom. Dr. Stephen Gano, was for a period of thirty-six years (1792- 
1828), the honored and efficient pastor of the First Baptist Church in 
Providence. In June, 1762, the First Baptist Church in New York, 
consisting of twenty-seven members dismissed for this purpose from the 
Scotch Plains Church, was organized, and Mr. Gano became its pastor. 
Here he continued for a quarter of a century, excepting the time he was 
absent from the city in consequence of the war. During his ministry 
the church was greatly prospered, receiving by baptism upwards of three 
hundred members. 

Mr. Gano early espoused the cause of his country in the contest with 
Great Britain. At the commencement of the war he joined the standard 
of freedom in the capacity of Chaplain to General Clinton's New York 
brigade, and by his preaching and example contributed not a little to 



1756-1763. AND MANNING. 39 

impart a determined spirit to the soldiers. Though his duties were 
peaceful he did not shun scenes of danger. Headley, in his " Chaplains 
and Clergy of the Revolution," says : — " In the fierce conflict on Chatter- 
ton's Hill, Mr. Gano was continually under fire, and his cool and quiet 
courage in thus fearlessly exposing himself, was afterwards commented on 
in the most glowing terms by the officers who stood near him." In speak- 
ing of his conduct on this occasion he himself modestly says : — " My sta- 
tion in time of action I knew to be among the surgeons, but in this battle 
I somehow got in the front of the regiment, yet I durst not quit my 
place for fear of dampening the spirits of the soldiers, or of bringing on 
myself an imputation of cowardice." Headley further states that when 
he "saw more than half the army flying from the sound of cannon, others 
abandoning their pieces without firing a shot, and a brave baud of six 
hundred maintaining a conflict with the whole British army, filled with 
chivalrous and patriotic sympathy for the valiant men that refused to 
run, he could not resist the strong desire to share their perils, and he 
eagerly pushed forward to the front." Mr. Gano continued in the ai-mv 
till the conclusion of the war. On the 19th of April, 1783, Washington 
proclaimed peace from the "New Building" at Newburg, and the patri- 
otic Chaplain, in the presence of the Commander-in-Chief, offered up a 
prayer of thanksgiving and praise to the Almighty Ruler of the 
Universe. 

In 1788 Mr. Gano left his Society in New York, and removed to 
Kentucky. He died at Frankfort, in 1804, in the seventy-eighth year of 
his age. Hon. Charles S. Todd, formerly Ambassador from the United 
States to Russia, in a communication to the Rev. Dr. Sprague, says : — 
" Well do I remember the venerable and imposing appearance which he 
used to make, as he walked the streets, and how everybody respected 
him, both as a Christian gentleman and a minister of the Gospel." "He 
was in person," says the Rev. Dr. Furman, " below the middle stature, 
and, when young, of a slender form ; but of a vigorous constitution, 
well fitted for performing active services with ease, and for suffering 
labors and privations with constancy. In the more advanced stages of 
life his body tended to corpulency. His presence was manly, open, 



40 BROWN UNIVERSITY. Chap. I. 

and engaging. His voice was strong and commanding, yet agreeable, 
and capable of all those inflections which are suited to express either the 
strong or tender emotions of an intelligent, feeling mind. ' ' 

Memoirs of Mr. Gano, written principally by himself, were published 
in a small duodecimo form in 1806. This is now a very rare book, and 
much sought after. He was one of the first trustees of Rhode Island 
College, and as such rendered good and efficient service. Cathcart has 
a fine likeness of him in his "Baptist Encyclopaedia," from which the 
accompanying portrait is taken. 




John Gano, 



CHAPTER II. 



1763-1769. 

Manning's first appearance in Rhode Island in behalf of the College — Stopped at New- 
port while on a voyage to Halifax — Accompanied by Rev. John Sutton, afterwards 
an assistant to the Rev. Samuel Winsor of Providence — Motion for the College made 
to prominent Baptists, and a meeting to discuss the subject held at Col. John Gard- 
ner's house — Account of Colonel Gardner — Sketch of the proposed College pre- 
sented by Manning at an adjourned meeting, and the Hon. Josias Lyndon and Col. 
Job Bennet appointed to draw a Charter to be laid before the next General Assem- 
bly — Designs of the friends of the College nearly frustrated by "secret contri- 
vances " — After three sessions of the General Assembly, Charter finally granted at 
an adjourned session, held in East Greenwich, on the last Monday in February, 
1764 — Manning and Edwards present at these sessions — Charter now the Constitu- 
tion of Brown University — Remarkably liberal in its provisions — Necessary to 
locate the College in the beginning where the President could receive a support as 
the Pastor of a Church — "Warren the place selected — Members of the church in 
Swansea about to form a separate church in Warren — Preparations made to build a 
meeting-house — Manning received a call dated Feb. 17, 1764, "to come over from New 
Jersey and settle amongst them " — Arrival in "Warren — Formation of the Baptist 
Church, Nov. 15, 1764 — Covenant — Imposition of Hands — Call of the Chiirch to 
Manning — Latin School commenced — First meeting of the Corporation held in New- 
port in 1764 — Second meeting held in 1765 — Manning elected President — Brief 
account of the members — Extracts from the records — First student, "William Rogers, 
of Newport, matriculated — Sketch of his character and life — Letter from Isaac 
Backus to the Rev. Dr. Gill, of London, commending Manning as a teacher of youth 
and the President of the College — Extract from Backus's history — Letter from 
Manning to David Howell aboiat to graduate at Princeton, inviting him to come to 
Warren — Sketch of the life and character of Howell, the first Tutor and Professor of 
the College — Morgan Edwards requested by the Corporation to go to England and 
solicit funds for the College — Account of his mission — Subscription book preserved 
among the Library archives — Parsonage-house built by a lottery — Formation of the 
Warren Association in 1767 — Plan drawn by Manning — Records of the early meet- 
ings — Noah Alden — Efforts put forth in behalf of religious freedom — Standing 
Committee on Grievances — Manning's prominence both in the Warren and the Phil- 
adelphia Associations — Circular Letter by Manning — Meeting of the Corporation 
for 1769 held in Warren — First Commencement — Red-letter day in the history of the 
College — Candidates dressed in American manufactures — Stamp Act — Discussion 
of American Independence a prominent feature of the Commencement exercises — 
Description of the first Latin sheet or broadside — Alphabetical arrangement of the 
6 



42 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

names of the candidates in contrast with that of Harvard — Brief biographies of 
members of the graduating class — Oration of William Rogers — Sketches of Richard 
Stites, James M. Varnum, William Williams, and Charles Thompson — Thompson's 
Valedictory Address. 

During the year that elapsed after his ordination and marriage, 
Manning traveled through the Colonies, in order to ascertain from per- 
sonal observation the real state of religion, and to prepare himself for 
the great work upon which he had now entered. No record is left to 
indicate the extent or to exhibit the incidents of his journeyings. From 
his "Narrative," which we shall give in full in connection with the his- 
tory of the charter, and from subsequent events, it appears that he 
sailed to Halifax, and from thence returned through the New England 
Colonies, attending the several sessions of the Rhode Island Legislature 
during the discussions upon the charter, visiting Providence, his future 
home, and also Warren, where he was soon to be settled as a pastor. 
He was accompanied, it is stated, by the Rev. John Sutton, a member of 
the Scotch Plains Church, and an early graduate of the Hopewell 
Academy.^ Several years previous to this time Mr. Sutton had preached 
and baptized converts in Newport, Nova Scotia. He was afterwards, 
says Edwards, settled in Nova Scotia from 1766 until 1770. On his 
return to the Jerseys, after his settlement, he stopped at Providence, 
where he was an assistant to the Rev. Mr. Winsor six months, preach- 
ing for the church " to good acceptance." This we learn from the 
records, and also from Knight's "History of the Six Principle Bap- 
tists." 



1 This statement was made to the author many years ago, by the Rev. Dr. Benedict, and other 
members of the Gano family. It probably came from Mrs. Manning, who resided with ber nephew. 
Dr. Gano, after the death of her husband. She died in 1815. It is more than probable that she also 
accompanied her husband on this voyage to Halifax. In the sketch of the College found among the 
papers of Judge Howell, and given in Appendix B to President Sears's Centennial Discourse, it is 
stated that John Sutton accompanied Manning on his voyage to Halifax, touching at Newijort, in 
the summer of 1763. (See Centennial Discourse, pages 63-64.) Among the Manning papers is a let- 
ter from the Be V. Oliver Hart, of South Carolina, Nov. 14, 1764, in which he refers to a letter from 
Rev. Mr. Simpson, in answer to a call from the people at Halifax. This letter Mr. Hart sent to 
Manning, with a request that he would forward it in the " best and speediest manner you can." It 
is evident that Manning's visit to Halifax in the summer of 1763 had reference in some way to the 
Baptist interest in that place. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 43 

In the month of July, 1763, the vessel in which they had embarked 
for Halifax stopped at Newport, Rhode Island. It was at this time, 
says Manning, using his own words, that he " made a motion to several 
gentlemen of the Baptist denomination, whereof Col. John Gardner, 
the Deputy Governor was one, relative to a Seminary of Polite Litera- 
ture, subject to the government of the Baptists. The motion was prop- 
erly attended to which brought together about fifteen gentlemen of the 
same denomination to the Deputy's house." 

Who these " fifteen gentlemen of the same denomination " were we 
have no means of positively knowing. Among them without doubt were 
the three pastors of the Baptist Churches, Edward Upham, Gardner 
Thurston, and John Maxson. Colonel Gardner was surely present, for 
the meeting was at his house. So also the Hon. Josias Lyndon and 
Col. Job Bennet, for they were appointed a committee to draw up a 
charter and present it to the Legislature. Governor Samuel Ward, so 
his biographer states, was present. So doubtless were Doct. Thomas 
Eyres, a graduate of Yale, and the first Secretary of the Corporation, 
Simon Pease, Peleg Barker, John Tanner, John Warren, and John 
Tillinghast. These were all Baptist Trustees and Fellows, and were 
present at the first meeting of the Corporation in 1764. Colonel Gardner, 
beneath whose hospitable roof was held this first meeting in Rhode Island 
relative to the College, was a man venerable in years and prominent in 
society, being not only Colonel and Deputy Governor, but also Chief 
Judge of the ^uperior Court of Judicature, now called the Supreme 
Judicial Court. He was a son of Joseph and Catherine (Holmes) 
Gardner, and a descendant of the celebrated Rev. Obadiah Holmes, who 
was publicly whipped for his religious opinions by the authorities at 
Boston. He died in 1764. The inscription on his tomb in the New- 
port graveyard reads as follows : — 

To the memory of the Honorable John Gardner, Esq., this tomb is dedicated. He 
changed this life for one more glorious, on the 29th day of January, 1764, in the 69th year 
of his age. His death was to the community the loss of a useful and worthy member; 
to his disconsolate wife and numerous offspring a loss irreparable. He was a loving 
and indulgent husband, as well as a tender and affectionate parent, and remarkable for 



44 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IL 

Ms affable and courteous deportment to all men. While young he devoted himself to 
the service of his country, in which he was advanced to many posts of the greatest trust, 
which he discharged with honor and fidelity. He was early received into the Baptist 
Church, in the communion of which he remained a worthy member till his death. His 
life was exemplary, and few men had a more extensive charity for Christians of every 
denomination. In his last hours he bore his sickness with patience and resignation, a 
glorious presage of his future happiness. And we trust that he is now at rest in the 
mansions of bliss, with his Redeemer and the spirits of just men made perfect. 

In accordance with the suggestion of Colonel Gardner, Mr. Man- 
ning was requested to draw a sketch of the design, and the meeting 
was adjourned until the day following. "That day came," says Man- 
ning, "and the said gentlemen, with other Baptists, met in the same 
place, when a rough draft was produced and read, the tenor of which 
was, that the Institution was to be a Baptist one, but that as many of 
other denominations should be taken in as was consistent with the said 
design." This appears to have met the approval of the brethren 
present, "and accordingly," Manning continues, "the Hon. Josias Lyn- 
don and Col. Job Bennet were appointed to draw a charter to be laid 
before the next General Assembly, with a request that they would pass 
it into a law." The " next General Assembly" met by adjournment in 
Newport on the first Monday in August. The manner in which the 
designs of the friends of the College were nearly frustrated by what 
Backus terms "secret contrivances and some other attempts against it," 
will be shown in detail in a succeeding chapter. After two sessions of 
the General Assembly held in South Kingstown, one in October, 1763, 
and one in January, 1764, and after much opposition on the part of cer- 
tain Congregationalists and their friends, a charter reflecting the liberal 
sentiments of the Colony, and of the Baptist denomination at large, 
was finally granted, at an adjourned session held in East Greenwich, on 
the last Monday in February, 1764. "After much and warm debate," 
says Judge Jenckes, " the question was put and carried in favor of the 
charter by a great majority." The final result was largely due doubt- 
less to the personal influence of Manning and Edwards, who it appears 
were present at these several sessions. Manning, the future President, 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 45 

was now twenty-five years of age, of a fine, commanding appearance, and 
polished address. He was known as a superior scholar, having recently 
been graduated from Princeton with the second honors of his class. 
His physique was large and imposing, his person was graceful, and his 
countenance handsome and remarkably expressive of sensibility, dignity, 
and cheerfulness. He possessed, moreover, a voice of extraordinary 
compass and harmony, to which, in no small degree, may be ascribed 
the vivid impression which he made upon other minds. His manners, 
too, were those of a refined gentleman, combining ease without negli- 
gence, dignity, grace, and politeness without affectation. Mr. Edwards, 
the "first mover" in the enterprise, is described by all his biographers 
as a man of wonderful magnetic influence, inspiring with enthusiasm all 
with whom he came in contact. Such were our leaders at this crisis in 
the history of the College. How much influence Bishop Berkeley, 
whose name has been mentioned by prominent writers in this connec- 
tion, had in the. matter, does not to the writer's mind yet appear. He 
had resided in Newport thirty-two years previous to this time, from Feb- 
ruary, 1729, until September, 1731, with the pious intention of convert- 
ing the American Indians to Clu-istianity by means of an Episcopal 
college to be established in one of the Bermuda islands. 

This charter, which gives to the Baptists, or as they are further desig- 
nated, "Anti-Pedopaptists," the control, or in the words of Manning, 
" the lead in the Institution," is now regarded as the "unalterable consti- 
tution of Brown University." However severely it may be criticised by 
the Baptists of to-day for its remarkable, and in the minds of some, 
excessive liberality, it is very evident that no other charter could have 
been obtained one hundred and thirty-two years ago ; and furthermore, 
that no strictly sectarian college could have succeeded, at least for the 
time being, under the exclusive patronage of a despised and oppressed 
denomination, ha\dng only seventy regularly organized churches in all 
the tliirteen colonies, with a membership of perhaps five thousand. Our 
fathers were wise in their day and generation ; and they well deserve 
our gratitude and praise, for their wise and persistent efforts to found 
an institution of learning. 



46 BKOWN UNIVEKSITT Chap. II. 

But though the Colony of Rhode Island had been selected for the 
College, and a charter reflecting her liberal and well known sentiments 
in religious concernments had been secured, no town stood at first pre- 
pared to welcome it in its infant state, without students, without funds, 
and with no certain means of support. To the projectors and friends 
of the enterprise it seemed necessary and desirable that it should be 
located where the President, like the revered principal of the Hopewell 
Academy, should be the pastor of a church, in order that he might thus 
be the better able to rally around him the friends of the College, and 
by preaching obtain for himself and family a support. The three 
churches in Newport were already provided with competent pastors, 
viz., the Rev. John Maxson, who was a Seventh-day Baptist, the Rev. 
Edward Upham, who was a graduate of Harvard College, and the Rev. 
Gardner Thurston, whose meeting-house and congregation, according 
to Edwards, were the largest of any connected with the denomination 
in New England. The church at Providence, although founded by 
Roger Williams, and the oldest Baptist church in America,^ had never 
been accustomed to contribute liberally toward the support of a pastor. 
In point of fact it did not believe in paying for preaching. With 
only one hundred and eighteen members, living widely apart, with a 
small and uncomfortable meeting-house, opposed to singing in pubhc 
worship, and clinging to many prejudices and customs, which it after- 
wards threw off under the enlightened teachings of Manning, it offered 
but feeble encouragement in the outset to a seat of learning. Moreover, 
it was already provided with a pastor, the Rev. Samuel Winsor, son of 
a former pastor of the same name who had been ordained in 1733. 
Together they two, father and son, had the oversight of the church 
for thirty-seven years. 

1 This has been the claim of the church and society from the beginning. In the words of a com- 
mittee appointed to review the claims of the Newport Church to priority of date : " The priority, 
in age, of the First Church, in Providence, has been asserted by the unanimous voice of Baptists 
and others. The story has been told by father to son, and handed down through thousands of the 
families of this state and land, without change. The earliest chronicles have recorded it. It has 
been woven into every history which was ever written of the State, or of the denomination." Cal- 
lender, Hopkins, Edwards, Stiles, Backus, Arnold, Staples, the records of the church and the 
records of the society, all are at one on this point in our ecclesiastical history. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 47 

Warren, a thriving town on an arm of the Narragansett Bay, ten 
miles from Providence, seemed to meet all the requirements in the case. 
Here were nearly sixty Baptist communicants, the majority of whom 
were members of the venerable church in Swansea, three miles away.^ 
With this church they and their forefathers had in former years found 
association and comfort. Under the care of the Rev. Jabez Wood, it 
was now, according to Backus, in a declining state. The population of 
Warren was moreover rapidly increasing, and it became obvious that the 
time had arrived when these communicants could best secure their 
religious welfare by forming themselves into a separate and independent 
body, instead of continuing as a branch of the mother church. " Papers," 
says Spalding in his centennial discourse,^ " have recently come to light 
which make it clear, that as early as 1762, before the College was pro- 
jected at Philadelpliia, the purpose had been formed to build a meeting- 
house in Warren." One of these papers, dated Feb. 14, 1763, is a bill 
against " the meeting-house" for dragging a stick of timber "through 
the great swamp." The house, says Morgan Edwards, writing in 1771, 
"was erected in 1763, on a lot fifty rods square, purchased by the con- 
gregation." 

Ministers, according to Edwards, occasionally visited the place and 
baptized, particularly Rev. Gardner Thurston, who may have communi- 
cated these facts to Manning on his visit to Newport in the summer of 
1763. There are no records to show when Manning first visited Warren. 
Perhaps he made it liis home during the several sessions of the Leg- 
islature, when the charter was under discussion, preaching as opportu- 
nities offered. The members of the Legislature from Warren, it may 
be added, were prominent members of the Baptist congregation. It is 
certain that he received his call to Warren just previous to the final 
vote at the session in East Greenwich. The records state that " the 
congregation at Warren gave the Rev. James Manning a call to come 



1 The oldest Baptist Church in Massachusetts. Founded in 1663 by the celebrated John Miles, 
who, in 1662, was ejected from the living in listen, in Wales, by the Act of Uniformity. 

- Centennial Discourse on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the First Baptist Church in War- 
ren, R. I., Nov. 15, 1864. By A. F. Spalding, A. M., Pastor of the Church. 8vo. Providence, 1865. 



48 BKOWN UNIYEKSITY Chap. II. 

over from New Jersey and settle amongst them." This was dated Feb. 
17, 1764, and signed by their Committee, Sylvester Child, Ebenezer 
Cole, and John Wheaton. This call Manning accepted. Accordingly 
we read in Hezekiah Smith's diary, ^ under date of Wednesday, April 
11, 1764: — "With Mr. Manning and his wife embarked for Newport, in 
Rhode Island, with Captain Stephen Wanton. Arrived on Friday." 
Mr. Manning proceeded at once to Warren, leaving Mrs. Manning for 
the time in Newport. Again we read in the diary, under date of Sat- 
urday, April 21st: — "Went to Warren with Mrs. Manning, Esquire 
Coles, Captain Wheaton, and Mr. Lillibridge." A parsonage house 
was built for the pastor later on. His zeal and eloquence soon attracted 
a large and flourishing congregation. The fruits of his ministry were 
apparent, and believers in Christ were publicly baptized. In a few 
months it was unanimously agreed by all who desired to come into fel- 
lowship as a church in Warren, to have a covenant or plan of union, 
the church in Swansea, says Spalding, dismissing twenty-five members 
for this purpose. On the fifteenth day of November, 1764, a church of 
fifty-eight members was duly organized and constituted. By previous 
appointment, they had engaged the Rev. John Gano, of New York, the 
Rev. Gardner Thurston, of Newport, and the Rev. Ebenezer Hinds, of 
Middleborough, to assist in the proposed undertaking. The day was 
kept in the solemn exercise of fasting and prayer. "In the forenoon," 
says the record, "Mr. Thurston preached a sermon, and after a short 
intermission of service, the people returned, and Messrs. Gano, Man- 
ning, and Hinds, each made a prayer suitable to the occasion, after 
which the church covenant, previously prepared by Mr. Manning, was 
presented and read." 

This covenant, the original of which, in Manning's handwriting, was 
in the possession of the Rev. J. P. Tustin, at the time of the dedication 
of the new church edifice, we copy from an appendix to Mr. Tustin's 
discourse : — ^ 



1 Chaplain Smith and the Baptists, page 42. 

2 Discourse delivered at the Dedication of the new Church Edifice of the Baptist Church and 
Society in Warren, May 8, 1845. By Josiah P. Tustin, Pastor. 18mo. Providence. H. H. Brown, 
1845. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 49 

Whereas we, unworthy sinners, through the infinite riches of free grace, as we trust, 
hrought out of darkness into the marvellous light of the gospel, and the grace of it, 
transformed into the kingdom of God's dear Son Jesus Christ our only Lord and 
Saviour, and made partakers of all those privileges which Christ purchased with his 
precious blood, think it our duty, and the greatest privilege we can enjoy here on earth 
to walk in all the commandments and ordinances, not only for our own comfort and 
peace, but for the manifestation of the glory of God and for the mutual help and society 
of each other ; and as it hath pleased God to appoint a visible church relation, to be the 
way and manner whereby he is pleased to communicate to his people the blessings of 
his presence, a growth in grace, and furtherance in the knowledge of our Lord God — 

We, therefore, this day, after solemn fasting and prayer for help and direction, in the 
fear of his Holy name, and with hearts lifted up to the most high God, humbly and 
freely offer up ourselves a living sacrifice unto him who is our God, in covenant, 
through Jesus Christ, to walk together according to his revealed Word, in visible gospel 
relation, both to Christ our only head and to each other as fellow-members and brethren 
of the same household of faith. 

And we do humbly engage, that, through his strength, we will endeavor to perform 
all our respective duties toward God and each other, and to practise all the ordinances 
of Christ, according to what is and shall be made known to us in our respective places ; 
to exercise, practise, and submit to the government of Christ in this church. 

And we declare that it is our mind that none are properly qualified members of this 
Christ's visible church, but such as have been wrought upon by the grace of God, deliv- 
ered from their sins by the justifying righteousness of Christ, and have the evidence 
of it in their souls, have made profession thereof, that is, of a living faith in Christ, and 
have been baptized by immersion, in the name of the Holy Trinity. 

Further, it is our mind, that the Imposition or Non-Imposition of Hands upon 
believers, after baptism, is not essential to church communion, and that where the 
image of Christ is discerned, according to the rules of God's word, and those previous 
duties but now mentioned are submitted to according to gospel rules, we are ready to 
hold communion with all such walking orderly in the church of Christ. 

And now we humbly hope, that although of ourselves we are altogether unworthy 
and unfit thus to offer up ourselves to God, or to do him any service, or to expect any 
favor or mercy from him, yet that he will graciously accept of this our free-will offering, 
in and through the merits and mediation of our dear Redeemer, and that he will employ 
and improve us in his service to his own praise, to whom be all the glory both now and 
forever. Amen. 

This covenant may be regarded as the creed or constitution of the 



50 BROWN" UNIVEESITY Chap. II. 

church. The paragraph relating to the Imposition or Non-Imposition of 
Hands upon beUevers after baptism, deserves consideration. The doc- 
trine of "Laying on of Hands," referred to in Hebrews vi. 2, was prac- 
tised, it appears, by the Scotch Plains Church, and by all the churches 
in Rhode Island at this time, they being called Six Principle Baptist 
churches. When in 1652 some of the members of the Providence church 
withdrew from the parent body, under the leadership of Thomas Olney, 
they were called Five Principle Baptists, because they rejected the doc- 
trine. Manning did not believe in the rite, and yet, with a large 
Christian charity, he yielded to its practice as a non-essential when 
requested. "This rite," says Spalding,^ " which so troubled the Rhode 
Island churches, now generally conceded to have been connected with 
the supernatural gifts of the Holy Ghost, was quietly laid aside, and 
has never disturbed our church. At a meeting one month after its 
formation, the records say, ' Mrs. Sarah Throop came under the Imposi- 
tion of Hands, being conscious of duty.' Few, if any other instances 
of the rite are on record." 

After the members had signed the foregoing covenant, "they were 
asked by the Rev. Mr. Manning, ' ' continues the record, " whether they, 
in the presence of that assembly, viewed that as their covenant and plan 
of union in a church relation, which question was answered by them all 
in the affirmative, standing up " ; after which three of the brethren, 
Samuel Hix, Amos Haile, and John Coomer, in behalf of the church, 
presented to Mr. Manning a call to become their pastor. The call was 
read publicly by Mr. Gano, and formally accepted by the pastor elect. 
The solemnities of the day were closed by a sermon from Mr. Gano, who 
reminded both pastor and people of their respective duties, and urged 
the mutual performance of both, from those important motives which 
the nature of the relation requires. 

Manning's first call, it will be observed, was from the congregation, 
"to come over from New Jersey and settle amongst them." His second 
call was from the church. We present it in full as an interesting part 
of our narrative : — 



1 Centennial Discourse, page 15. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 51 

The Church of Christ in "Warren, in the Colony of Rhode-Island, baptized upon a 
personal profession of faith, holding the doctrines of regeneration, perseverance in 
grace, etc., being constituted and organized a church this 15th day of November, 1764, 
present to the Rev. James Manning, late of Nassau Hall, in New Jersey, their Christian 
salutation : 

Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Inasmuch as God in his Providence hath seen fit to give us an opportunity of being 
constituted a church of Christ, that we may according to the pattern showed us in the 
Gospel, partake of the ordinances which Christ hath left in his church, and walk 
together as brethren in Christ, and his Apostles having instructed us that ordained pas- 
tors are those that are to feed his people with knowledge, and administer ordinances 
amongst them, we do this day unanimously request that you would accept this our call 
to the work of a pastor over and amongst us, having been fully satisfied heretofore of 
your call and ordination in the work of the ministry in a regular church of Christ in 
Elizabethtown, East Jersey, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Benjamin Miller. And 
as we are of the opinion that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, we 
do here declare our intention to render your life as happy as possible by our brotherly 
conduct towards you, and communicating our temporal things to your necessities so 
long as God in his Providence shall continue us together ; your acceptance hereof we 
humbly hope will be a means under the Divine blessing of our mutual furtherance and 
growth in grace. Thus we prefer our request and subscribe your brethren, 

John Eastobrook, \ 

Benjamin Cole, I 

Sylvester Child, f ^ ^ , 7^ 

\ In behalf 
John Child, \ 

Ebenezer Cole, / of the whole.' 

John West, \ 

William Eastobrooke. / 



The first step taken by Manning in reference to the College was to 
open a Latin School, with an ultimate view to college instruction. This 
School, which soon became flourishing, he continued to teach personally 



1 See Tustin's Dedication Discourse, pp. 171-173. 



52 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

or superintend for many years, in connection with his professional 
duties as pastor of the church and President of the College. It was 
removed to Providence in 1770, and, upon the completion of the build- 
ing now called University Hall, to rooms in that building. In 1810 a 
brick house for its accommodation was erected by friends of the Col- 
lege, under the direction of a committee of the Corporation consisting of 
Thomas P. Ives, Moses Lippitt, and Thomas L. Halsey. It is now 
called the University Grammar School, and is taught by the principals, 
Emory Lyon and Edward A. Swain, they having the entire control and 
responsibility of its management. This School has been from the begin- 
ning an efficient auxiliary to the College or University. In a manu- 
script volume belonging to Manning, which has recently come into our 
possession, are the following entries, which are of special interest in this 
connection : — " William and Daniel Rogers returned to School Novem- 
ber 17, 1765. Samuel Ward returned November 28, 1765. John Den- 
nis, John Coomer, and Joseph Rogers began School the 1st day of May, 
1766. Reuben Mason began May 5, 1766. William Bradford and 
Samuel Miller, May 12, 1766. Richard Stites began the 20th of June, 
1766. August 11, 1766, received of Dr. William Bradford three 
Spanish milled dollars, it being for one quarter's schooling for his son 
William, Jr. James Manning." 

The first meeting of the " Corporation for founding and endowing a 
College or University within the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- 
dence Plantations in New England in America," was held at Newport, 
on the first Wednesday in September, 1764. At this meeting the fol- 
lowing gentlemen, twenty-four in number, as appears from the records, 
were present, and qualified themselves by taking the oath prescribed by 
the charter; namely, Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Hon. Joseph Wanton, 
Hon. Samuel Ward, John Tillinghast, Simon Pease, James Honeyman, 
Nicholas Easton, Nicholas Tillinghast, Daniel Jenckes, Nicholas Brown, 
Joshua Babcock, John G. Wanton, Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Jere- 
miah Condy, Rev. Gardner Thurston, Rev. John Maxson, Rev. Samuel 
Winsor, Rev. James Manning, Josias Lyndon, Job Bennet, Jr., Eph- 
raim Bowen, Edward Thurston, Jr., Thomas Eyres, and Peleg Barker. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 53 

The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., was chosen Chancellor, John Tilling- 
hast, Esq., Treasurer, and Doct. Thomas Eyres, Secretary. The form of 
a certificate, authorizing persons to receive donations for the College, was 
adopted, and also the form of a receipt therefor. A "Preamble" was 
adopted, setting forth the nature and design of the Institution, and its 
need of funds. Committees to receive subscriptions for the College 
were appointed throughout Rhode Island, in the Southern and Western 
parts of the continent, and in the states of Massachusetts and Connecti- 
cut. Committees were also appointed to provide a seal for the use of 
the Corporation, and to assist in digesting and recording the proceed- 
ings of the meeting. 

The second annual meeting of the Corporation was held in the 
Colony House at Newport, on the first Wednesday in September, 1765. 
At this meeting Manning, in the quaint language of the records, was 
formally appointed " President of the College, Professor of Languages 
and other Branches of Learning, with full power to act immediately in 
these capacities at Warren, or elsewhere." It would seem from the 
phraseology of this vote, that there was in the minds of the Corporation 
an uncertainty in regard to the permanent location of the College. 
This appears prominent in the records of all future meetings, until the 
removal to Providence. Manning's friend and classmate from Haverhill 
was present at this meeting, and was elected a member of the Board of 
Fellows. He was now on his way to New Jersey, in company with one 
of his parishioners, Capt. John White. His journal reads as follows : — 
"Tuesday, September 3d, 1765. We went to Newport and stayed at 
Col. Bennet's till Saturday. Wednesday and Thursday I was with the 
Corporation, which sat upon the College business, and on Thursday I 
was elected one of the Fellows. Mr. Manning was chosen President 
the same da}-. We, although but a part of the Corporation, subscribed 
for the building and the endowing of the College, nineteen hundred and 
ninety-two dollars."^ Whatever else may have been lacking in these 
early days, there was evidently no lack of faith on the part of the 
guardians and friends of the College. 

1 Chaplain Smith and the Baptists, page 97. 



54 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

It is interesting to observe the character and standing of the men, 
who, at this second and most important meeting of the Corporation, 
formally elected Manning President of the Institution which, under the 
auspices of the Philadelphia Association, he had happily succeeded in 
founding. Of the four religious denominations recognized in the char- 
ter, the Congregationalists alone were unrepresented. The reason for 
this will be apparent in the progress of our narrative. The Episcopa- 
lians were represented by Governor Joseph Wanton and the Hon. James 
Honeyman, both residents of Newport, and gentlemen of culture, wealth, 
and high social position. The former was elected Governor in the year 
1769. Previous to this he had been Deputy Governor. He continued 
to fill the office from year to year, with great acceptance, until 1775, 
when he was suspended by the General Assembly for disloyalty. Mr. 
Honeyman was the son of the Rev. James Honeyman, Rector of 
Trinity Church, Newport. He was an able lawyer and a prominent 
politician, filling many high offices. In 1742 he was appointed " King's 
Attorney." For many years he was Advocate General of the Court of 
Vice Admiralty for the Colony, having been appointed to this office by the 
British Government. The Quakers or Friends were represented by the 
Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Nicholas Easton, John G. Wanton, and Edward 
Thurston, Jr. No name is more prominent in the history of this period 
than that of Hopkins, and few men of any period have exerted so wide 
an influence upon the destinies of the country. For nearly forty-five 
years, as Si)eaker of the House of Representatives, Associate and Chief 
Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature, Governor of the State, and 
Representative to Congress, he was engaged in some kind of public 
official duty. His name appears among the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence.^ The office of Chancellor, to which he was elected at 
the first meeting of the Corporation, he held until his death, in 1785, a 
period of twenty-one years. He was a warm personal friend of Manning, 
and by his unwearied zeal, extensive learning, and genuine love of litera- 

1 " Stephen Hopkins, a Rhode Island Statesman," by William E. Foster, is a noble contribution 
to our biographical literature. It forms a part of the series of " Historical Tracts " published by 
Sidney S. Rider. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 55 

ture, proved a most efficient coadjutor in all the plans and efforts of the 
latter for the advancement of the interests of the College. We shall 
have frequent mention of him in succeeding chapters. In a letter to 
Dr. Rippon, of London, Manning, referring to his decease, describes him 
as "for many years Governor of the Colony, and one of those distin- 
guished worthies who composed the First Congress. He was one of the 
greatest men our country has reared." Mr. Wanton was an opulent 
merchant of Newport, and related by blood and marriage to the wealthi- 
est and most popular families in the Colony. The name of Nicholas 
Easton appears in Arnold's History of Rhode Island, as a member of the 
General Assembly from Middle town, in the year 1776. He was a 
physician, and a direct descendant of Governor Nicholas Easton, one of 
the pioneer settlers of Newport. Mr. Thurston, who also represented 
the Quakers, continued a Trustee eighteen years, and served on impor- 
tant committees. He was a descendant of Edward Thurston, of New- 
port, who was treasurer of the Colony from 1709 until 1714. The latter 
had two sons, Edward, who died Nov. 14, 1735, and Gardner (born Nov. 
14, 1721, died May 23, 1802,) who was pastor of the Third Baptist 
Church. Edward, who died in 1735, had a sou named Edward, who was 
born about the year 1732. This must be the one whose name appears 
in the early records of the Corporation as Mr. Edward Thurston, Jr. 

The remaining twenty-one members of the Corporation who were 
present at this meeting were Baptists, seven of them being Fellows. 
They were from the towns of Newport, Providence, Warren, and West- 
erly in Rhode Island, and from Boston, Haverhill, Middleborough, New 
York and Philadelphia. Manning, as the elected President, was chair- 
man of the Board of Fellows, and guided, we may suppose, the delibera- 
tions of the body. The duties of a Fellow which Hezekiah Smith now 
assumed, he conscientiously discharged with rare ability and zeal. For 
a period of forty years, or until his decease, he attended the annual meet- 
ings of the Corporation, and also the Commencements, having been 
absent, as appears from his diary as well as from the College records, but 
twice in all that time. And this, too, although he lived seventy miles 
away, and was obliged in every case to come and go, either on horseback 



56 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

or in his own chaise. In the year 1769, by special vote of the Corpora- 
tion, he left his home in Haverhill and travelled eight months in South 
Carolina and Georgia, soliciting funds for the Institution. During the 
war, when the College was closed, he was with the American army as a 
Brigade Chaplain, and was present in important battles. Washington 
corresponded with him and gave him his confidence and respect. His 
diary^ from 1762 when he was graduated, until 1805, when he died, is a 
most important record of the times in which he lived, and invaluable for 
historical illustration and research. He was an acknowledged leader 
among the Baptists, and a prominent man in the community. 

The Rev. Samuel Stillman, who at first had been a Trustee, was at 
this meeting elected a Fellow. This office he also held until his death, 
a period of forty years. He, too, was punctual in his attendance upon 
all the meetings of the Corporation, cheerfully exerting his great 
influence in aid of the various interests of the College. In January of 
this year he had been installed as pastor of the First Baptist Church in 
Boston. He was a man of learning and culture, and as a preacher 
exceedingly popular, having, it is asserted, no superior in New England. 
Among his admirers were President Adams, General Knox, and John 
Hancock, the latter of whom was for a time a member of his congrega- 
tion. No clergjanan of the day, it is said, was so much sought after by 
distinguished strangers who visited the New England metropolis. In 
the early times there was a "Commencement sermon" at the close of 
the day, and crowds of people were wont to flock to the spacious Bap- 
tist meeting-house to hear "the great man of Haverhill," or the "elo- 
quent Stillman of Boston." Doct. Thomas Eyres, the first Secretary of 
the Corporation, was the son of Rev. Nicholas Eyres, and a graduate of Yale 
College. He was a practising physician, and a member of Mr. Thurs- 
ton's church. The Rev. Edward Upham, pastor of the First Church 
in Newport, was a graduate of Harvard College, in the class of 1721. 
Doct. Joshua Babcock was a leading man in Westerly, and had held 
various public offices of responsibility and trust, including that of Judge 



1 See " Chaplain Smith and the Baptists." 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 57 

of the Superior Court of Judicature. In 1775 he was appointed Major- 
General of the Rhode Island militia. Morgan Edwards was also present 
as a member of the Board of Fellows. 

Of the twenty-two Baptist Trustees, as the charter provides, fourteen, 
according to the record, were present at this meeting, viz. : The Hon. 
Samuel Ward, Nicholas Brown, Col. Job Bennet, Judge Daniel Jenckes, 
the Rev. Gardner Thurston, the Rev. John Maxson, the Rev. Samuel 
Winsor, the Rev. John Gano, the Hon. Josias Lyndon, John Tillinghast, 
Peleg Barker, Simon Pease, Nicholas Tillinghast, and the Rev. Isaac 
Backus. Ward, the political opponent of Hopkins, and the popular Gov- 
ernor of Rhode Island during the years 1762, 1765, and 1766, was one 
of the mo^t influential members of the famous Congress of 1774. His 
life, written by Professor Gammell, is published in Sparks's American 
Biography; Brown was the oldest of the " Four Brothers," whose names 
are so prominent in connection with the early history of the College, and 
the growth and development of the town of Providence;^ Lyndon was 
a resident of Newport, and a man of influence. In 1768 he was elected 
Governor by an overwhelming majority of nearly fifteen hundred; Ben- 
net was the intimate friend of Manning and Smith, frequently enter- 
taining them beneath his hospitable roof. In the list of Judges his 
name frequently appears as Associate Judge of the Superior Court. 
He was now a prosperous merchant, doing business, according to adver- 
tisements in the Neivport Mercury, on Thames street, and having the 
military title of Colonel ; Jenckes was one of the most influential men 
of Providence. A sketch of him will be found in a subsequent chapter 
on the charter ; Thurston has already been mentioned as the pastor of 
the Second Baptist Church, having, according to Edwards, the largest 
Baptist congregation in New England. He was, it is stated, an inti- 
mate friend and associate of the learned Dr. Stiles ; John Tillinghast 
was the first Treasurer of the College, serving three yefi.rs until 1767, 
when he was succeeded by Colonel Bennet ; Gano has already been 



' For a biographical sketch of these brothers, including the inscriptions on their several tomb- 
stones, see " Manning and Brown University," pp. 143-176. 



58 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

mentioned as Manning's brother-in-law, and one of the great "lights" 
in the Baptist denomination ; Backus, who was soon to be prominent 
as the historian of New England, and the agent of the Baptist churches, 
in connection with the " Committee on Grievances " of the Warren Asso- 
ciation, was now the popular and useful pastor of a church in Middle- 
borough. We shall frequently have occasion to refer to him in the 
progress of our narrative. The following are extracts from the records 
of this meeting : — 

Resolved, That a seal for the College be procured immediately by the Rev. Samuel 
Stillman, at Boston, with this device : — Busts of the King and Queen in profile face to 
face; underneath, George III., Charlotte; round the border, the seal of the Colony of 
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in America. 

At the next annual meeting Mr. Stillman's account was presented 
and allowed, and the sum of ten pounds and thirteen shillings was 
ordered to be paid him by the Treasurer. The seal was of silver. Con- 
tinuing our extracts : — 

Resolved, That Nicholas Brown be appointed to receive subscriptions for the College 
in Providence. 

Resolved, And the Secretary is hereby directed to preserve the seniority of the 
respective members in both branches of this Corporation, by inserting those re-elected 
immediately after those who have legally qualified themselves within the time limited, 
and afterwards those chosen at this meeting, and so from time to time. 

Resolved, That Rev. John Gano be requested and duly authorized to receive sub- 
scriptions in any part of America. 

Resolved, That Rev. Hezekiah Smith be appointed to receive subscriptions at Haver- 
hill, and Mr. Solomon Southwick at Dartmouth. 

Resolved, That Honorable Samuel Ward, Honorable Joseph Wanton, Jr., James 
Honeyman, Esq., Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Gardner Thurston, Mr. Edward Thurs- 
ton, Jr., and the Secretary (Doct. Eyres) be a committee to transact the necessary affairs 
during the recess of this Corporation. 

Here we have the beginnings of the Executive Committee, which has 
always been a prominent feature of the Corporation. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 59 

The day previous to the annual meeting which we have here described, 
Tuesday, September 3d, Manning matriculated his first college student, 
William Rogers, a lad of fourteen, from Newport. This we learn from 
an interesting paper in his hand-writing preserved on file, entitled, "A 
Matriculation Roll of the number of students in Rhode Island College, 
with the time of their admission, up to 1769." The second student 
matriculated according to this document was Manning's brother-in-law, 
Richard Stites. The entry reads, "Richard Stites, entered June 20, 1766, 
from Elizabethtown, N. J." From Sept. 3, 1765, until June 20, 1766, 
a period of nine months and seventeen days, young Rogers was therefore 
the only student in College, constituting the entire Freshman class. He 
was graduated with honor in 1769, and afterwards attained to distinc- 
tion as a preacher, a chaplain in the army, and a man of letters. If, 
among her "first fruits," Trinity College, of Dublin, may boast of her 
Archbishop Usher, and Harvard College of her Dr. Woodbridge, Rhode 
Island College may also boast of her Dr. Rogers, as the first student who 
enrolled his name upon her records, and as one whose character and life 
reflect the highest honor upon his revered instructor and the Institu- 
tion over which he presided. A brief biographical sketch may not be 
regarded as inappropriate in this connection : — 



William R ogees. 

William, the second son of Capt. William and Sarah Rogers, was 
born in Newport, Rhode Island, on the 22d of July, 1751. Having 
finished a preparatory course of study under the care of the Rev. Aaron 
Hutchinson, a Congregational minister of Grafton, Massachusetts, he 
entered Rhode Island College at the early age of fourteen, one day 
previous to the meeting of the Corporation when Manning was elected 
President. He was graduated in 1769, having for his subject an 
oration on benevolence, in which, says the reporter, "among other 
pertinent observations, he particularly noticed the necessity which that 
Infant Seminary stands in for the salutary effects of that truly 



60 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

Christian virtue."^ After graduating he engaged for awhile in teach- 
ing in the place of his birth. While thus employed, during the year 
1770, he became a subject of renewing grace, and was baptized by 
the Rev. Mr. Thurston, being received as a member of the church, his 
biographer states, "by prayer, and the Imposition of Hands." This fact 
is mentioned as an illustration of the views and usages that then pre- 
vailed in the Baptist churches of Rhode Island. Very soon he gave 
evidence of talents that would qualify him for enlarged usefulness. 
President Manning, in referring to the first graduates of the College, 
in a letter to Dr. Stennett, of London, under date of June 5, 1771, thus 
writes respecting Rogers : — " One of the youth, graduated at our first 
Commencement, who is thought to be savingly brought home by grace, 
has joined Mr. Thurston's church in Newport, and appears eminently 
pious. As soon as his age will admit, for he is quite a youth, he will be 
called to the work of the ministrj-, with hopes of his making a distin- 
guished figure in the pulpit. He bears the greatest resemblance to Mr. 
Hezekiah Smith of any person I know, and I hope he will make such 
another son of thunder." 

His reading from this time on was chiefly on theological subjects, 
though he still indulged, to some extent, his taste for scientific studies. 
In August, 1771, he was called and licensed to preach, by the church of 
which he was a member ; and in December following, in consequence of 
earnest solicitations from Morgan Edwards, and others, he relinquished 
his charge as principal of the academy in Newport, and removed to 
Philadelphia. Here he continued preaching on probation until March, 
1772, w^hen he received a unanimous call to succeed Mr. Edwards as 
pastor of the Baptist Church. He accepted the call, and was ordained 
on the 31st of May following, not yet having attained his majority. 
The sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Isaac Eaton, of 
Hopewell, from the words : — "And who is sufficient for these things ? " 
It proved to be the last sermon that Mr. Eaton ever preached, wliile the 
text was the first upon which Mr. Rogers preached. It pleased the 



1 The orations of this graduating class are preserved in manuscript, and are in the possession 
of the writer. Mr. Rogers's Oration, and the Valedictory Address are given at the close of the 
present chapter. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 61 

Lord graciously to bless his labors among this people, and before the 
close of the year he baptized upwards of thirty, mostly young persons, 
including Miss Hannah Gardner, a highly accomplisiied young lady of 
eisrhteen, whom he afterwards married. He continued his labors as a 
pastor until the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, when patriot- 
ism led him to engage in the ser\ace of his country. 

The General Assembly of Pennsylvania, having in March, 1776, 
voted three battalions of foot for the defence of their Province, appointed 
Mr. Rogers their Chaplain. In June, 1778, he was promoted to a 
Brigade Chaplaincy in the Continental army, which office he continued 
to hold until June, 1781, when he retired from military service alto- 
gether.^ He was in intimate relations with the prominent actors of the 
Revolution, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the Command- 
ing General. He was an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity, 
and frequently addressed them on public occasions.^ In March, 1789, 
he was appointed Professor of Oratory and Belles-Lettres in the College 
and Academy of Philadelphia ; and in April, 1792, he was elected to 
the same professorship in the University of Pennsylvania. He received 
the degree of Master of Arts in 1780, from Yale College, and also from 
the College of New Jersey six years later. From the University of 
Pennsylvania he received, in 1790, the honorary degree of Doctor in 
Divinity. The following pleasant account of Dr. Rogers, as given by 
an English gentlemen, in a letter dated New York, June 25, 1793, we 
take from Evans's Life of Richards.^ The writer was travelling tlii-ough 
the countr)^ with a view to final settlement. The extract serves to illus- 
trate Rogers's social character, and also gives an agreeable view of Gen- 
eral Washington in his private relations : — 



1 His " Journal of a Brigade Chaplain in the Expedition against the Six Indians, under command 
of Major-General John Sullivan," with notes by the publisher, Sidney S. Rider, constitutes No. 7 of 
Rhode Island Historical Tracts. Small 4to. Providence, 1879, pp.136. 

2 He delivered a Fourth of July Address before the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, of 
which he was a member, in 1789; which address was printed in full in the Providence Gazette, 
January 2 and 9, 1790. A prayer before the same Society, delivered Feb. 22, 1800, was published by 
particular request. It is advertised in Rippon's Baptist Register, Vol. 3, page 202. 

3 Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Rev. William Richards, LL. D., by John Evans, LL. D., of 
Islington. 12mo. Chiswick, 1819. 



62 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

After travelling through an extreme pleasant country, we arrived at Philadelphia, 
and waited on Dr. Rogers. Dr. Rogers is a most entertaining and agreeable man, and 
received your letter with much pleasure. We were with him a great part of the time 
we remained in the city, and were introduced by him to General Washington. The 
General was not at home when we called, but, while we were talking with his private 
secretary in the hall, he came in, and spoke to Dr. Rogers with the greatest ease and 
familiarity. He immediately asked us up into the drawing-room, where was Lady 
Washington and his two nieces. When we were seated, the General called for wine and 
cake, of which we partook, he drinking our "health, and wishing us success in all our 
undertakings." The General asked us a number of questions respecting the situation of 
things in Europe, to all which we answered, you may be sure, in our best manner. It 
is his general custom to say little ; but on this occasion we understood he was more than 
usually talkative. He made one remark, which, under the circumstances in which it 
was delivered, has a peculiar energy — "that we had chosen a happy countnj , and one large 
enough!" After sitting about half an hour, we retired, highly gratified with having 
conversed with the first character of the age. 

The last years of Dr. Rogers were spent in dignified retirement, and 
in the diligent cultivation of pious and devout feelings. He was con- 
nected with various benevolent organizations, and during the years 
1816 and 1817 was a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. 
He died in Philadelphia, April 7, 1824, at the age of seventy- three. The 
First Baptist Church, as a testimony of its veneration and regard, 
erected a handsome monument to his memory. As a preacher, says the 
late Dr. Sharp, ^ he was highly evangelical, advocating and ably defend- 
ing the doctrines of the Reformation as held by a Watts, a Doddridge, 
and multitudes of others. Notwithstanding his attachment to evangeli- 
cal principles, he was remarkably liberal in his feelings, for he truly 
loved all good men. In illustration of this, it may be stated, that during 
one year, soon after the close of the war, he received invitations from 
three very important churches, and of as many different denominations, 
in the states of Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, either to sup- 
ply the pulpit steadily, or to settle as pastor. One of these invitations 
was from the Episcopal Church of St. John's, in Providence. The invi- 



1 Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. VI. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 63 

tation was given, of course, with a proviso, as will be seen by a refer- 
ence to Updike's History of the Narragansett Church. 

Dr. Rogers was of the middle size, and in his habits and manners 
was more than ordinarily refined. In seasons of relaxation he was 
agreeably facetious. He was very active, and walked with the agility 
of youth, until within a few weeks of his decease. In the circle of his 
family he was almost worshipped. A fine picture of liim, executed 
by his daughter. Miss Eliza J. Rogers, from an original portrait by 
Rembrandt Peale, graces the collection in Sayles Memorial Hall. He 
was twice married. His first wife, a daughter of William Gardner, 
died of the yellow fever, in 1793. His second wife, who survived 
him, was a daughter of Joseph Marsh, of Philadelphia. A younger 
brother, Daniel, a pupil of Manning's Latin School in Warren, was a 
successful merchant in Newport. He died in August, 1792, in the 
fortieth year of his age. An obituary notice, copied from the Provi- 
dence G-azette, is published in Rippon's Register. Another brother, 
Robert, was graduated from the College in 1775. He was an officer in 
a Rhode Island regiment during the war, and afterwards was principal 
of a classical school in Newport. Washington Allston was one of his 
pupils. For twenty years he was secretary, treasurer, and librarian of 
the Redwood Library, and from 1788 until his death in 1835, a period of 
forty-seven years, he was a Fellow of Rhode Island College, afterwards 
Brown University. A son of his, William Sanford Rogers, of Boston, 
founded in 1870 a scholarship, and dying two years later, bequeathed to 
Brown University the sum of fifty thousand dollars to found the " New- 
port-Rogers Professorship of Chemistry." This he did, as he expressed 
it in his will, in memory of his father and his uncle who had both been 
graduated from the College. Thus the memory of the first student will 
forever be perpetuated in the annals of science. 

The following advertisement, which we take from the Newport Mer- 
cury of June 20, 1768, may fitly close this sketch. It shows the posi- 
tion of the father of the first student of the College, and contains an 
allusion to Judge Gardner's house, where the first meeting for the 
founding of the College was held: — 



64 BROWK UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

William Rogers, of Newport, on the north side of the Parade, opposite the Town 
School House, takes this method to acquaint his customers and others, that he has 
newly supplied his shop with a very large and general assortment of English and India 
goods, directly from London, via Boston; which he will sell as cheap as can be had at 
any shop in the Government, for cash : — And he will take in pay for any of said goods 
tryed tallow, bayberry-wax, striped flannel, and tow cloth, at cash price. 

N. B. Said Rogers has to sell, a large double house and lot, situated on the north 
side of the Parade, opposite to Governor Lyndon's, forty feet front and forty-five feet 
deep, on a cross street, next to the late Deputy Governor Gardner's ; with another house 
on said lot sixteen feet front on said cross street, and forty feet long, which he will dis- 
pose of at very reasonable terms on good security. For further particulars inquire of 
said Rogers. 

The accompanying portrait of Dr. Rogers is taken from an engraving 
in Rippon's Baptist Register, and is dated April, 1797. In the super- 
scription he is styled "Professor of English, and the Belles-Lettres, in 
the University of Pennsylvania." 

A letter addressed by Backus to the Rev. Dr. Gill, of London, an 
extract from which we here present, illustrates Manning's position at 
this time, as a pioneer in introducing polite literature or learning among 
the Baptists of New England. The writer was already known as an 
author, having commenced publishing his discourses and controversial 
tracts as early as 1754. Gill was the acknowledged leader among his 
brethren throughout Great Britain. As a learned commentator on the 
Old and New Testaments his reputation was world-wide : — 

One grand objection made use of against Believer's Baptism, has been that none but 
ignorant and illiterate men have embraced the Baptist sentiments. And there was so 
much color for it as this, namely, that ten years ago there were but two Baptist minis- 
ters (Jeremiah Condy, of Boston, and Edward Upham, of Newport,) in all New England 
who had what is called a liberal education ; and they were not clear in the doctrines of 
grace. But three others have lately come from the Southern governments ; namely, 
Mr. Samuel Stillman, who is settled in Boston ; Mr. Hezekiah Smith, who has had 
remarkable success in Haverhill, where he has gathered a large society ; and Mr. James 
Manning, who is settled at Warren, R. I. And as the Baptists have met with a great 
deal of abuse from those who are called learned men in our land, they have been not a 
little prejudiced against learning itself ; but, latterly, there has been considerable alter- 




William Rogers. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 65 

ation in this respect. A charter was obtained from the General Assembly of Rhode 
Island in February, 1764, incorporating a number of Trustees and Fellows, for founding 
and endowing a College for the education of youth (of which you will be likely to hear 
more in due time) ; and this Corporation, at their annual meeting, last September, chose 
the aforesaid Mr. Manning President. He has commenced a school, which appears in a 
likely way to increase fast. But as there are scarce any books suitable for such busi- 
ness to be sold in that Colony, he has thought of sending to London for a quantity ; and 
as he is unknown there, he requested that I would write a few lines in his favor. 
Therefore, my dear sir, if my poor testimony may be thought worthy of any notice, I 
desire that you would mention to Mr. Keith, to whom he has thoughts of sending, that, 
from near two years' acquaintance with him, I am well satisfied that he is a man of 
piety, integrity, and ability, who will make conscience of fulfilling his engagements. 

I remain, sir, your humble servant, 

Isaac Backus. 

Another extract from Backus may not be regarded as inappropriate in 
this connection, as it throws light on the early history of the College. 
In his examination of nine sermons preached by Joseph Fish, of Ston- 
ington, against Baptists and Separatists, he shows the difference between 
true and false learning. ^ In answer to the charge made by Mr. Fish, 
that a learned and able ministry was held by them in light esteem, he 
replies : — 

Several who have formerly sent their sons to college have been disappointed, as the 
clergy have found means to draw them over to their party ; which has discouraged 
others from sending their sons. And the Baptists in general have been so much abused, 
by those who boast of their Learning, that it is not strange if many were prejudiced 
against such men ; yet they have had some that the world calls learned men, from the 
beginning ; and lately have begun a College of their own which bids fair to increase. 
(The charter for it was granted in February, 1764, by the General Assembly of Rhode 
Island Colony ; and Mr. James Manning, of Warren, is now President thereof.) But I 
hope they may never imagine to confine Christ or his church, to that, or any other 
human school for ministers. 



1 "A Fish caught in his own Net. An Examination of Nine Sermons, from Matt.xvi. 18. Pub- 
lished last year by Mr. Joseph Fish, of Stonington, wherein he labors to prove, that those called 
Standing Churches in New England, are built upon the Rock, and upon the same principles with 
the first fathers of this country; — And that Separates and Baptists are joining with the Gates 
of Hell against them. By Isaac Backus. Pastor of a Church of Christ in Middleborough." 12mo. 
Boston. Printed by Ecles & Gill, 1768, pp. 129. 
9 



66 BROWN UNIVEESITT Chap. II. 

The first of the letters from Manning's pen that have been pre- 
served was written to Miss Stites while he was a student in College, 
a brief extract from which is given in our first chapter. The second is 
specially interesting, as indicating the way in which the Honorable 
David Howell came to be so intimately connected with the College. 
We give it entire. He was now a member of the Senior class at 
Princeton, and about to graduate from that institution : — 

Sir : — I some time ago received a line from you by Mr. Stelle, in which you 
requested my advice relative to your destination when you have done with college. 
I was glad to find that you had not yet determined upon any place or employment, 
because I was desirous that you should make a visit to these parts before your settle- 
ment. But to give advice, without having some prospect of advantage, I should think 
imprudent ; and indeed the matter is important, for if it should not succeed according 
to your wishes, you might entertain hard thoughts of me. However, at present it 
appears to me that you cannot do better than to visit Rhode Island. The success 
Mr. Stelle has met with encourages me. He has a Latin school in the town of Provi- 
dence of nearly twenty scholars, and may have more if he finds himself able to manage 
them. I believe he gives good satisfaction, and is much esteemed by the gentlemen 
of the town. I thought when he came here that he would much more readily have 
found employ in Newport ; and although the people there were for making the attempt, 
yet he chose first to see Providence, whither I accompanied him. They would not, 
however, consent that he should go back, but immediately employed him; so that if you 
are disposed to keep a school, I imagine one may easily be obtained in Newport. I 
would gladly invite you to come and live in my family, if the infant state of our College 
could promise you proper encouragement ; but at present it is hardly to be expected, 
although in the revolution of a year it will doubtless need more help. Upon the whole, 
I think if I were in your circumstances, as near as I can judge, I should come ; and I 
would advise you to see me before you engage anywhere. A taste for learning is 
greatly upon the increase in this Colony. Mr. Stelle can give you a more particular 
account of matters in these parts, as he will be with you at Commencement; and if you 
can get your affairs in readiness, he will be your company over. After telling you my 
family is well, as also your friend Stites, etc., I bid you farewell, wishing you the best 
blessings of heaven, and that I may have the pleasure of waiting upon Mr. Howell at 

the house of 

Sir, your humble servant, 

James Manning. 
Warren, July 14, 1766. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 67 

Agreeably to President Manning's advice, Mr. Howell came to War- 
ren, and was at once associated with him as Tutor in the College. In 
1769 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philoso- 
phy, which position he occupied until the breaking up of the College 
in consequence of the Revolutionary War. In addition to the regular 
studies of his professorship, he taught the French, German, and Hebrew 
languages. For thirty-four years he was Professor of Law, although 
he never delivered any lectures in connection with this department of 
instruction. He was fifty-two years a member of the Board of Fellows, 
and for many years was Secretary of the Corporation. He was thus 
intimately connected with the College during a large portion of his 
protracted life. On several occasions, after President Manning's 
decease, he presided at the College Commencements, and delivered to 
the graduating classes Baccalaureate addresses, which were greatly 
admired. He practised law in Providence for many years, and was 
regarded as the leading member of the Rhode Island bar. Under the 
Confederation he was a member of Congress, and he subsequently 
filled, with great ability, several high offices, civil and judicial. In 
1812 he was appointed United States Judge for the District of Rhode 
Island, and this office he sustained until his death, in 1824. " Judge 
Howell," says Professor Goddard, "was endowed with extraordinary 
talents, and he superadded to his endowments extensive and accurate 
learning. As an able jurist, he established for himself a solid reputa- 
tion. He was, however, yet more distinguished as a keen and brilliant 
wit, and as a scholar extensively acquainted not only with the ancient, 
but with several of the modern languages. As a pungent and effective 
political writer, he was almost unrivalled ; and in conversation, what- 
ever chanced to be the theme, whether politics or law, literature or 
theology, grammar or criticism, a Greek tragedy or a difficult problem 
in mathematics, he was never found wanting. Upon all occasions 
which made any demands upon him, he gave the most convincing evi- 
dence of the vigor of his powers, and of the variety and extent of his 
erudition."^ To all this may be added extraordinary physical powers, 

1 Memoir of Rev. James Manning, page 6. 



68 BEOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. II. 

and a majestic, dignified presence. Such was the intimate friend and 
early academical associate of Manning. 

The following are in brief his various titles and positions, as given 
in the recently published "Historical Catalogue " of the University: — 
He received the degree of A. B. from the College of New Jersey in 
1766 ; the degree of A. M. from Rhode Island College in 1769, and 
from Yale University in 1772 ; the degree of LL. D. from Rhode Island 
College in 1793 ; he was Tutor, 1766-69 ; Professor of Natural Philos- 
ophy, 1769-79 ; Professor of Jurisprudence, 1790-1824 ; Acting Presi- 
dent, 1791-92 ; practising Lawyer in Providence ; Member of the 
Congress of Confederation, 1782-85 ; Associate Justice of the Supreme 
Court of Rhode Island, 1786-87 ; Attorney General, 1789 ; Commis- 
sioner for settling the boundaries of the United States ; District Attor- 
ney ; United States Judge of Rhode Island District, 1812-24 ; Member 
of the Board of Fellows, 1773-1824; Secretary of the Corporation, 
1780-1806. He was born in New Jersey, January 1, 1747 ; died in 
Providence, July 21, 1824. 

Mr. Howell married Mary, only daughter of Jeremiah and Waitstill 
(Rhodes) Brown. One of his daughters, Waitstill, was married to 
Ebenezer Knight Dexter, who, dying without issue, left his large estate 
to his native town. The Dexter Asylum, Dexter Training Ground, 
Dexter Lots, and the Dexter Donation Fund, are the enduring memo- 
rials of his munificence. The city erected a monument to his memory 
in the North Burial Ground, on the spot where his remains are interred. 
Through the generosity of a private citizen, the Hon. Henry C. Clark, 
a statue of Ebenezer Knight Dexter has recently been erected on the 
Dexter Training Ground. 

The following in reference to Tutor Hovrell appears in the records 
of the annual meeting of the Corporation for September, 1767 : — 

The Reverend President's conduct for the year past, and his engaging Mr. David 
Howell as a Tutor, is approved of, and the amount of his account for engaging him 
was allowed, being twenty-five pounds, lawful money, which was ordered to be paid. 




David Howell. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 69 

The following appears as a part of the record for September, 1768 : — 

Resolved, That Mr. David Howell be a Tutor of the College. 

Voted, That the salary of Mr. Howell as Tutor be £72 lawful money, and that he 
collect the tuition money as it becomes due as part of said salary. 

Voted, That the sum of £23 lawful money be paid by the Treasurer to President 
Manning for the board of his Assistant. 

At the annual meeting of the Corporation held in Warren, Sept. 8, 
1769, as appears from the records, " Mr. David Howell was elected Pro- 
fessor of Philosophy in this College." The accompanying likeness is 
from a portrait in Sayles Memorial Hall. This portrait was copied by 
J. S. Lincoln from one by Col. John Trumbull in the picture of 
"Washington resigning his Commission to Congress," in the Rotunda 
of the Capitol at Washington. Trumbull painted from a sketch from 
Ufe taken in 1793. 

The Latin School was now flourishing, and already there were six 
members of the college class. These facts, and the coming of Mr. 
Howell to Warren to identify himself with the infant Institution, 
inspired Morgan Edwards with renewed confidence, and led him to 
leave his family and church for a time, and devote himself to the 
raising of funds in the land of his birth and education, for the payment 
of the President's salary. In accordance with an offer to this effect, a 
special meeting of the Corporation was held in Newport, Nov. 20, 
1766, when it was voted : — " That the Reverend Morgan Edwards be 
requested and duly authorized to go to Europe and solicit benefactions 
for this Institution, and that the thanks of this Corporation be returned 
him for his generous offers." It was also voted at this meeting, "That 
the President return the thanks of this Corporation to Dr. Thos. 
Llewelyn (of London) for his donation of a pair of Globes for this 
Institution. The following "authorization" for Mr. Edwards we 
copy from the records : — 

By the Honorable Samuel Ward, Esquire, Vice-Chancellor, and the Keverend 
James Manning, President of the College or University in the English Colony of 
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America. To the 



70 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

Reverend Morgan Edwards, A. M., of the City of Philadelphia, in the Province of 
Pennsylvania, Greeting : — 

Whereas, The General Assembly of the Colony aforesaid, did, by an act passed at 
their session held on the last Monday in February, 1764, incorporate certain persons 
therein named into one body corporate and politic; and granted them a charter, 
authorizing and empowering them and their successors to found, endow, order, and 
govern a College or University within said Colony, as in and by the said charter, refer- 
ence thereto being made will fully and clearly at large appear : And whereas, the Cor- 
poration of said College or University, reposing special trust and confidence in your 
abilities and integrity, and convinced of your disinterested zeal and ardor for promoting 
and completing the design of the General Assembly, did, at their meeting held by 
authority of, and agreeable to their charter, at Newport, in the said Colony, on the 
day of the date hereof (Nov. 20, 1766,) unanimously resolve, that you, the aforesaid 
Morgan Edwards, should be requested and empowered to proceed to Europe to solicit 
and receive donations for the aforesaid purpose : These are therefore to authorize and 
empower you to proceed with all convenient speed to Europe, and in any part of his 
Majesty's dominions, or elsewhere, to urge, solicit, and receive from the friends of use- 
ful literature, and other well disposed persons, donations and benefactions for the 
founding and endowing the College or University aforesaid : For all which donations 
and benefactions you are to be accountable to the Treasurer of said Corporation for the 
time being; your reasonable charges and expenses in soliciting the same being first 
deducted. In testimony whereof, etc. 

With this authorization duly signed, and the seal of the Corporation 
affixed, Mr. Edwards set out on his mission in the month of February- 
following. He returned during the latter part of 1768, having been 
absent from home nearly two years. From his account which he pre- 
sented to the Corporation, it appears that he obtained for the College 
the sum of £888 10s. 2d. sterling, or about five thousand dollars ; 
which, he remarks in his narrative, was succeeding "pretty well, con- 
sidering how angry the mother country then was with the colonies for 
opposing the Stamp Act." On this point he thus writes to Manning, 
under date of London, April 26, 1768: — "Your newspapers, and 
letters from your Government, published in other papers, have hurt 
me much. You boast of the many yards of cloth you manufacture, etc. 
This raises the indignation of the merchants and manufacturers. I 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 71 

have been not only denied by hundreds, but also abused on that score. 
My patience, my feet, and my assurance are much impaired. I took a 
cold in November, which stuck to me all winter, owing to my tram- 
poosing the streets in all weathers." 

An account of these subscriptions forms an interesting chapter in 
the "Documentary History of Brown University," (pages 148-171). 
The original subscription book is preserved among the archives of the 
Library. It was presented to the Library in the year 1849 by Joshua 
Edwards, a son of Morgan, through his pastor, the Rev. Richard Webster, 
of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. The donor was then living, though 
upwards of eighty years of age. The signatures, it may be remarked, 
are genuine. Among them we notice the subscriptions of the Hon. 
Thomas Penn, of London, X20 ; Thomas Llewelyn, Esq., ,£31 10s. ; 
Samuel Roffey, Esq., £21; Benjamin Franklin, XlO^lOs. ; Benjamin 
West, £10 10s. ; the Rev. Doctors Gill, Stennett, Gifford, and Gibbons ; 
Thomas Hollis and Timothy Hollis ; Hugh and Caleb Evans of Bristol, 
etc. It is an interesting fact that Mr. Edwards's first subscriptions 
were obtained in Ireland, in the towns and cities of Cork, Waterford, 
Dublin, Belfast, Lisburn, Antrim, Ballymony, Coleraine, Londonderry, 
Newry, Westmeath, and Ormond.^ 

The meeting-house to which reference has been made, which was 
erected before Manning's call to Warren, served a most important pur- 
pose in bringing together beneath its roof the friends of religion and 
learning. And now a parsonage was needed, not only for the accom- 
modation of the pastor and his family, but also, as in the case of the 
parsonage at Hopewell (a cut of which is given in our previous chapter), 
for the use of the pupils of the Latin School, and the students of the 



lAt the semi-annual meeting of the American Antiquarian Society, held in Boston, April 24, 
1895, Dr. Samuel S. Green read an able and instructive paper on " The Scotch-Irish in America," 
showing that after the English Revolution ot 1688, a steady stream of Scotch Presbyterians had 
poured into Ireland, and that large numbers of these Presbyterians emigrated in the eighteenth 
century to America. Dr. Green showed that these emigrants constituted an important part of our 
population, and that they had always been on the side of popular education and religious liberty. 
In the remarks that followed the reading of this paper, the writer referred to the subscriptions for 
the College obtained in Ireland by Morgan Edwards. See Proceedings of the Society, Vol. 10, 
pages 7-8. 



72 BEOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. II. 

College. A popular method of raising money for religious, charitable, 
and educational purposes in these early times, not only in Rhode Island 
but throughout all the colonies, as legislative records amply show, was 
by means of lotteries, duly sanctioned and properly managed. Grad- 
ually they came to be managed by knaves and speculators, for private 
ends, and eventually, in accordance with the changed sentiment of the 
public respecting them, they were abolished. It is interesting to read 
the following notice which Mr. Tolman, in his recent "History of 
Higher Education in Rhode Island,"^ has copied from the Newport 
Mercury for Oct. 5, 1767 : — 

Scheme of a Lottery granted by the General Assemhly of the Colony of Rhode 
Island, etc., for raising one hundred and fifty pounds lawful money ($500), to be applied 
towards finishing the Parsonage house belonging to the Baptist Church in Warren, and 
rendering it commodious for the reception of the pupils who are or who shall be placed 
there for a liberal education. . . . It is hoped that the extraordinary expense of that 
infant society in building a new meeting house and parsonage house, as far as the build- 
ing is advanced, together with the immediate necessity of room for the pupils under 
the care of the Rev. Mr. Manning, and the great encouragement for the adventurers, 
there being but little better than two blanks to a prize, will induce those who wish 
well to the design speedily to purchase the tickets. 

It was about this time that Manning conceived the plan of uniting 
the Baptist churches of New England in an association, in order to 
promote their harmony and growth, to resist more successfully acts of 
oppression on the part of the "Standing Order" in Massachusetts and 
Connecticut, and especially to disarm his brethren of all existing preju- 
dices against human learning, to which Backus in his letter to Dr. Gill 
refers, and thus to advance the best interests of the College over which 
he presided. The Baptists of Rhode Island at this time, with the excep- 
tion of the church in Warren, were called -"Six Principle Baptists," 
and were united in an organization called the " Rhode Island Yearly 
Meeting." Knight in his history- states that this Meeting, in 1764, the 

1 United States Bureau of Education. Circular of Information. No. I. 1894. 

2 History of the General or Six Principle Baptists in Europe and America. Published under the 
patronage of the Rhode Island Yearly Meeting. By Richard Knight, Pastor of the church in 
Scituate. 8vo, Providence, 1827. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 73 

date of the College Charter, consisted of the following churches, viz. : 
Providence, Newport, Swansea, North Kingstown, Richmond, Tiver- 
ton, Rehoboth, Groton, New London, Smithfield, Scituate, Warwick, 
South Kingstown, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Cranston, Coventry, 
and perhaps some others. In the process of time some of these churches 
have become extinct, while others have ceased to maintain their peculiar 
organization. 

It was Manning's wish to unite all the churches of his faith and 
order in an association similar to the one in Philadelphia, of which he 
was a member, which was simply advisory in its character, having 
respect to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom by spreading 
through the churches an account of the welfare and prosperity of each. 
The undertaking was of no ordinary magnitude. The government of 
Baptist churches had been from time immemorial, as now, of the inde- 
pendent form, each particular church having an exclusive right of juris- 
diction over its own members, electing and dismissing its own officers, 
and transacting all its business by final issue within itself, without 
appeal to any power on earth, either civil or ecclesiastical. It had 
always been the belief of the Baptists that civil government, however 
desirable and necessary for civil purposes, had nothing to do with 
Christ's kingdom, which is spiritual, and not of this world, and nothing 
to do with the visible church, which is subject to Jesus Christ alone as 
the head thereof. Hence they regarded all synods, conventions, asso- 
ciations, and councils to decide religious controversies, revoke acts of 
particular churches, inflict censure, form platforms, and prepare articles 
of faith, as useless and antagonistic to the independency of the 
churches ; as having more or less respect to the civil state, and so par- 
taking too much of the carnal wisdom of this world. Outside of Rhode 
Island they had suffered too much from measures adopted at such 
councils and conventions of the Congregational ministers of Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut, to be easily persuaded to meet in the form of 
a permanent organized body, lest perchance they might seem to be 
following the example of their Congregational brethren. 

From the journal of Hezekiah Smith it appears that Manning was 

10 



74 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

in Haverhill, Boston, Newport, and other places in the spring of 1766, 
conferring with his brethren in the ministry, and that in August fol- 
lowing Smith spent a week in Warren. Naturally the matter was pre- 
sented to the members of Manning's church. The first official mention 
of an association appears in the records of the church under date of 
Aug. 28, 1766, when it was voted, " That an association be entered 
into with sundry churches of the same faith and order, as it was judged 
a likely method to promote the peace of the churches." Doubtless the 
matter was discussed during the meeting of the Corporation held in 
Newport the month following. The next meeting of the Corporation 
was held in Newport Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1767. Mr. Smith records in 
his journal : — 

Sat with the Corporation of the College till Thursday. Thursday evening preached 
* 
in Mr. Thurston's meeting-house, from Solomon's Song, 1:4. Sat. Sept. 5. Preached 

in Mr. Masson's pulpit, from John 31 : 20. Sabbath, Sept. 6. In the forenoon I preached 

in Mr. Upham's pulpit, from Rom. 5: 1, in the afternoon in Mr. Thurston's pulpit from 

Solomon's Song, 5:2, and in the evening again for Mr. Thurston. Mon. Sept. 7. Went 

to Warren. Tues. 8. Met with a number to form a regular association. Mr. Gano 

from New York preached a serruon upon the occasion at the oi3ening of the meeting. 

Wed. 9. Mr. Manning's church at Warren, Mr. Hinds's at Middleborough, Mr. Alden's 

at Bellingham and ours at Haverhill, formed an association. The same evening I 

preached from Prov. 3: 17. 

Manning, Smith, Noah Alden\ and Ebenezer Hinds, four illustrious 
names, deserving for this act alone to be held by the denomination in 
grateful and lasting remembrance ! 



1 The Rev. Noah Alden, whose name frequently occurs in connection with Smith, Manning, and 
Stillman, was a lineal descendant from the famous John Alden of Plymouth. He was born in 
Middleborough, in 1725. In 1753 he became a Baptist, and shortly afterwards he was ordained as 
pastor of a church in Stafford, Conn. In 1766 he was nistalled as pastor of a church in Bellingham, 
where he remained until his death in 1797. " He was," says his biographer. Dr. Fisher, " for many 
years one of our most distinguished and honored ministers, and his name deserves to be held in 
grateful remembrance." He frequently presided at the meetings of the Warren Association, and 
rendered good service in the cause of religious freedom. He was a delegate to the Convention 
which met in September, 1780, for the purpose of framing a new State Constitution, and moved to 
have the third article of the famous Bill of Rights, which was at first intended to give rulers 
power in religious matters, recommitted. " The motion," says Backus, " was concurred with, and 
he was elected the chairman of a committee of seven upon that Article." He thus became in one 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 75 

Mr. Backus, who was chosen Clerk, thus commences the minutes 
of the meeting : — 

Whereas there hath of late been a great increase of Baptist churches in New 
England, which yet have not such an acquaintance with each other and orderly union 
together as ought to be, it has been thought by many that a general meeting or associa- 
tion might be a likely means to remove this evil, and to promote the general good of 
the churches. Therefore a number of elders, being occasionally together last year, did 
appoint a meeting at Warren, in Rhode Island Colony, on Sept. 8, 1767; and sent an 
invitation to others of their brethren to meet them there, to confer upon these affairs. 
Accordingly a considerable number of elders and brethren met at the time and place 
appointed ; and Elder John Gano, from New York, opened the meeting with a suitable 
sermon, from Acts xv. 9. 

Eleven churches were represented at this meeting by pastor and 
delegates, as follows ; namely, Warren — Rev. James Manning, and 
brethren Benjamin Cole and Daniel Brown ; Second, Rehoboth — 
Rev. Richard Round, and brethren Samuel Bullock and Daniel Bul- 
lock ; Haverhill — Rev. Hezekiah Smith, and brethren Jacob Whittier 
and Jonathan Shepard ; Norton — Rev. William Carpenter ; Belling- 
ham — Rev. Noah Alden ; First, Middleborough — Rev. Isaac Backus ; 
Second, Middleborough — Rev. Ebenezer Hinds ; Cumberland — Rev. 
Daniel Miller ; First, Boston — Dea. Josiah Colburn; Second, Boston — 
Brother Pliilip Freeman ; Attleborough — Brethren Abraham Bloss and 
Joseph Guild. There were also present from the Philadelphia Associa- 
tion, Rev. Messrs. John Gano, Abel Griffith, and Noah Hammond. 
Mr. Gano was chosen moderator, and, after looking to Heaven for 
guidance and direction, they proceeded to the business before them. 
The occasion, as we may well suppose, was one of unusual interest. 

Although the delegates in attendance "generally manifested," says 
the historian, " a good will toward this attempt for promoting the union 

sense the author of a provision in the Massachusetts Constitution, which was greatly in advance 
of the governments of his time, and was characterized by Dr. Paley in his Political Philosophy, 
published in 1785, as the best arrangement for the legal maintenance of a clergy that had yet been 
proposed. The Rev. Dr. Edward E. Hale, in an instructive discourse upon the Centenary of the 
Massachusetts Constitution, delivered in January, 1880, has drawn especial attention to this fact. 
Mr. Alden was also a prominent member of the Convention that in 1788 adopted the Constitution 
of the United States. The name of Ebenezer Hinds frequently occurs in the pages of Backus. 



76 BKOWN UNIVERSITY ' Ohap. II. 

and welfare of the churches, most of them thought they were not pre- 
pared to join an association." Four only of the churches represented 
were ready to make the venture. The others hesitated, through fear 
perhaps of some usurpation of authority, by the associated body, over 
the particular churches composing it. Moreover, they were not alto- 
gether satisfied with the sentiments and plan of organization adopted 
at this time, which were substantially those of the Philadelphia Asso- 
ciation. These were afterwards modified by President Manning, and 
in 1769 were adopted as a final basis for organization and action. As 
such they have been continued with few changes down to the present 
time. They read as follows : — 

Sentiments Touching an Association. 

1. That such a combination of churches is not only prudent, but useful, as has 
appeared even in America by the experience of upwards of sixty years. Some of the 
uses of it are, union and communion among themselves ; maintaining more effectually 
the order and faith once delivered to the saints ; having advice in cases of doubt, and 
help in distress ; being more able to promote the good of the cause, and becoming 
important in the eye of the civil powers, as has already appeared in many instances on 
this continent. 2. That such an association is consistent with the independency and 
power of particular churches-, because it pretends to be no other than an advisory council, 
utterly disclaiming superiority, jurisdiction, coercive right, and infallibility. 3. That 
an. association should consist of men knowing and judicious, particularly in the Scrip- 
tures. The reasons are obvious: such men are the fittest to represent communities 
who profess the Scriptures to be the only rule of faith and practice in religious matters, 
and who expect that every advice, opinion, or direction they receive from an associa- 
tion be Scriptural. They should be skilled and expert in the laws of their God, as 
counsellors are in the laws of the land ; for that is the ground of the church's applica- 
tion to them. 

Plan of the Association. 

1. The Association to consist only of messengers chosen and sent by the churches. 
These messengers to be their ministers (for a reason given in sentiment 3), together 
with some judicious brethren. Their expenses to be borne by the churches which 
send them. 

2. With the messengers the churches send letters addressed to the Association. In 
these letters mention is made of the messengers, and their authority to act for their 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 77 

churches ; also of the state of the churches touching their peace ; their increase by- 
baptism, and by letters dismissive and commendatory from other churches; touching 
their diminution by death, excommunication, and dismission to other churches, and 
the present number of members. If any questions are to be put to the Association, any 
advice to ask, or business to propose, these are to be expressed in said letters. 

3. All matters to be determined in this Association by the suffrage of the messen- 
gers, except what are determinable by Scripture: such matters are never put to the 
decision of votes. All that speak are to address the moderator, who is to take care that 
none be interrupted while speaking, and that no other indecorum take place. 

4. 'Churches are to be received into this Association by petitions setting forth their 
desire to be admitted, their faith, order, and willingness to be conformable to the rules 
of the associated body. When a petition is read, and the matter ripened for a vote, the 
moderator states the question. Suffrage being given in favor of the petition, the said 
moderator declares that such a church is received into the Association, in token of 
which he gives the messengers the right hand of felloio ship, and bids them take their 
seats. 

5. The Association to meet annually, at "Warren, on Tuesday next after the first 
"Wednesday in September,^ at two o'clock in the afternoon, and to continue till business 
be finished. It is to be opened with divine service: after which a moderator and clerk 
are chosen ; the letters from the churches are read ; the names of the messengers are 
written, that they may be called over at after meetings ; then business is attended to, 
and minutes thereof made ; a circular letter to the churches is prepared and signed, 
and a copy of it sent to every church, containing the minutes of the Association, the 
state of the churches, when and by whom vacancies are to be supplied, who is to preach 
the next Association sermon, and whatever else is needful for the churches to know. 

6. A connection to be formed and maintained between this Association and that of 
Philadelphia, by annual letter and messengers from us to them and from them to us. 

7. The faith and order of this Association are expressed in a confession put forth by 
upwards of a hundred congregations in Great Britain, in the year 1689, and adopted by 
the Association of Philadelphia in 1742. Some of the principles in said Confession are : — 
The imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity ; the inability of man to recover himself; 
effectual calling by Sovereign grace; justification by imputed righteousness; immersion 
for baptism, and that on profession of faith and repentance; Congregational churches 
and their independency; reception into them upon evidence of sound conversion, etc. 



1 "And as the annual Commencement at our college is on the first "Wednesday in September, and 
some who come to it from a distance would desire to attend the Association also, it was appointed 
to be on the Tuesday after the Commencement." Backus's Church History, Vol. 2, page 409, 
edition of 1871. 



78 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

The meeting of the Association for the year 1769, coming after the 
first Commencement of the College, was rendered unusually interesting 
by the presence, as messengers from the Philadelphia Association, of 
Samuel Jones, who had rendered essential service in remodeling and 
preparing for the Legislature Dr. Stiles's first draft of the charter, and 
who was the first choice of prominent members of the Corporation in 
1791, to succeed Manning in the Presidency; also John Davis and 
Morgan Edwards, who had but recently returned from England. 
" Many of the letters from the churches," says Backus, "mentioned 
grievous oppressions and persecutions from the Standing Order, espec- 
ially the one from Ashfield, where religious tyranny had been carried 
to great lengths." Whereupon petitions to the General Courts of 
Massachusetts and Connecticut for redress were prepared by a commit- 
tee of seven, of which the Rev. John Davis acted as chairman. The 
same having been read and approved, Messrs. Samuel Stillman, Philip 
Freeman, Philip Freeman, Jr., John Proctor, and Nathan Spear, all of 
Boston, were chosen a committee to present them. Stillman and Spear, 
it may be added, were members of the Corporation. 

The following proposal and plan to collect grievances, which we 
copy from the manuscript minutes of Backus, was also read at this meet- 
ing and approved: — 

Wliereas, complaints of oppressions occasioned by a non-conformity to the religious 
establishment in New England have been brought to this Association ; and whereas the 
laws obtained for preventing and redressing such oppressions have, upon trial, been 
found insufficient (either through defect in the laws themselves or iniquity in the exe- 
cution thereof) ; and whereas humble remonstrances and petitions have not been duly 
regarded, but the same oppressive measures continue: This is to inform all the 
oppressed Baptists in New England that the Association of Warren (in conjunction with 
the Western or Philadelphia Association) is determined to seek remedy for their breth- 
ren where a speedy and effectual one maybe had. In order to pursue this resolution by 
petition and memorial, the following gentlemen are appointed to receive well-attested 
grievances, to be by them transmitted to the Rev. Samvxel Stillman, of Boston ; namely, 
the Rev. Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, the Rev. Isaac Backus, of Middleborough, Mr. 
Richard Montague, of Sunderland, the Rev. Joseph Meacham, of Enfield, and the Rev. 
Timothy Wightman, of Groton, in Connecticut. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 79 

The efforts put forth by Manning and his associates in behalf of 
sound learning and civil and religious freedom, through the agency of 
the Warren Association, will be further illustrated in successive chap- 
ters. Those who may wish to consult fuller and more detailed accounts 
are referred to Backus's History, Hovey's Memoir of Backus, and 
"Chaplain Smith and the Baptists," the latter work giving in full the 
laws of Massachusetts relating to "Anabaptists" from 1728 until Man- 
ning's time. 

Gradually the Association won the confidence of the denomination, 
until in a few years it had extended over New England. By its means 
mutual acquaintance and harmony were promoted ; the weak and the 
oppressed were relieved ; errors in doctrine and in practice were exposed 
and guarded against ; warnings against false teachers in religion were 
published ; feeble and destitute flocks were provided with preachers ; 
the College was materially aided and strengthened ; students were 
encouraged to study for the ministry, and the Gospel was preached in 
destitute places. During the period of the Revolution it presented able 
addresses in behalf of civil and religious freedom to the Governments of 
Massachusetts and Connecticut, and to the Continental Congress. 
Although, says Arnold, in his History of Rhode Island, it no longer has 
that intimate connection with the University which at first existed, and 
the growth of Baptist churches in New England has given rise to 
numerous other associations of a similar character, the parent body still 
continues to exert a widespread and beneficent influence over the 
objects of its charge. 

The minutes^ of the Association show that Manning, during the 
whole period of his connection with it, was one of its most prominent 
and useful members. By his counsels and personal influence he first 



1 The manuscript minutes of the first four meetings of the Warren Association are among the 
Backus papers, from which they were carefully copied by the late Rev. Silas Hall, a graduate of the 
College in the class of 1809. To his kindness in placing them at our disposal we are greatly indebted. 
The minutes were first printed in the year 1771, since which time they have been pixblished without 
interrujition down to the present date. A set, including the aforesaid manuscript minutes, from 
the meeting of the Association in 1767 down to the present time, is in the College Library. The 
years 1780 and 1783 are copied from a set in the possession of the late Mr. John Carter Brown; other- 
wise the set is complete. 



80 BROWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IL 

called it into being. As has already been stated, he drew up the plan 
of its organization. In the years 1776, 1781, 1784, and 1787, he pre- 
sided over its deliberations as Moderator. In 1778 and in 1787 he 
preached the introductory sermon. In 1785 he made the opening 
prayer. From year to year we find his name on various important com- 
mittees. He was likewise prominent as a member of the Philadelphia 
Association, rarely failing, especially during the latter part of his life, 
to attend its sessions, although thereby subjected to great trouble, 
expense, and loss of time. He was once clerk, twice moderator, and 
three times the preacher at its annual meetings. "We close this portion 
of our narrative with the following Circular Letter, presented by him 
to the Warren Association, and by them adopted at its third meeting 
in 1769. It affords a happy illustration of the author's temper and 
spirit, and of his peculiar fitness to guide and instruct his brethren. 

Circular Letter by Manning. 

The Elders and Messengers of several churches belonging to the Association, met in 
"Warren, in the Colony of Rhode Island, etc. To the several churches they represent, 
greeting. 

Dear Brethren: — We have had the pleasure of meeting your representatives at 
the Association, who in general have brought us good news from the churches. We 
rejoice to see that the Son of man is pleased to walk in the midst of his golden candle- 
sticks, the churches, to dispense his blessings to his people, and to attend the Word of 
the kingdom with divine power to the salvation of sinners. Come! help us to magnify 
the Lord for his unspeakable mercy and goodness ! Yet we find that the enemies of 
truth are busily employed in endeavoring to subvert it, and in vexing and oppressing 
those who stand up for the cause of God. Brethren, we sympathize with you under 
your afflictions, while we call to mind the declaration of your ascended Head to his 
beloved flock whom he left behind, — In the world ye shall have t7%bulation. Yet how 
refreshing is what follows, — But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Those who live 
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Let not the powers of the world, who 
set themselves to oppose, discourage you. Search for the mind of Christ in his Word j 
which being discovered, pay a sacred regard thereto. Call no man master on earth ; and 
remember that the followers of Christ carry their cross in imitation of their Divine 
Master. Brethren, suffer us, however, to beseech you to use all proper means to obtain 
relief from the burdens imposed upon you, by taking heed to the general plan which we 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 81 

as a body propose to pursue. But while you attend to human means, let your cries be 
incessant to Him who hears and who will redress the cries of the oppressed. Pray for 
those who despitefullj- use you. Remember that love enters deeply into the spirit of 
our holy religion ; and that the glorious Founder thereof has given us the most striking 
example of it in living and dying for his enemies. Walk soberly and inoffensively 
toward those without ; and let your conduct prove that it is the power of truth, the force 
of conscience, that makes you Baptists, and not an affectation of singularity. And as 
you are persuaded that you have been taught by the Spirit of God, so let your light 
shine before others that you may win them to the truth. In the meantime, carefully 
guard against any designs to ensnare you, or to engage you in any combination with 
them that may eventually prove to the detriment of the cause. 

Finally, may the Lord Jesus afford you his presence, and bless you with abundant 
increase in all grace, to the glory of his great name. 

The sixth annual meeting of the Corporation was held in Warren, 
Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1769, at which were present twenty-one Trustees 
and seven Fellows. The first vote recorded reads as follows : — ■ 
^'^ Voted, That the meeting-house at Warren be fitted up at the charge 
of the Corporation, in the best manner the shortness of the time will 
admit, for the reception of the people to-morrow, the day of Commence- 
ment." This is the house which we have already described, erected in 
1763, a small unpainted building, forty-four by fifty-two feet, with a 
four-sided hip roof, surmounted at the top and centre with a belfry, in 
which was placed a ship bell, the rope of which hung directly down in 
the centre of the middle aisle. There was no tower or porch, the front 
door on the east side leading directly into the audience room. The 
galleries at this date were not finished. The " fitting up " referred 
probably to the erection of a platform or stage for the speakers. 

We find in the records of this meeting the only allusion thus far to the 
President's salary: — ^'■Ordered, That the Reverend President be paid 
£50 lawful money, by the Treasurer, out of the interest of the moneys 
remitted from Europe, as an allowance in part for his services." 
This vote was subsequently explained more fully by the report of a 
committee of five appointed to " examine into the state of Mr. Presi- 
dent Manning's account with the College," They report, in the lan- 
U 



82 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

guage of the records, " That the said President hath served the Society 
(College) for three years past and hath received no compensation for 
the same ; and as by a vote of the Corporation the sum of .£50 lawful 
money was ordered to be paid the Reverend President out of the inter- 
est money supposed to be due, we do report it as our opinion, that the 
said sum ought not to debar him from being recompensed in a more 
ample manner whenever it shall be in the power of the Corporation to 
do the same." It was understood, of course, in the beginning that the 
President would derive his support from the Latin School, and from the 
church of which he was to be pastor, the infant College having no 
funds. 

The first Commencement was held in the meeting-house on Thurs- 
day, Sept. 7, 1769. This has always been regarded as a red-letter 
day in the history of the College. Four years had now elapsed since 
the President, with a solitary pupil, commenced his collegiate duties as 
an instructor. Through toils, and difficulties, and opposition even, he 
had quietly persevered in his work, until the Seminary under his care 
had won its way to public favor. And now his first pupils were about 
to take their Bachelor's degree in the Arts, and go forth to the duties 
of life. They were young men of promise. Some of them were 
destined to fill conspicuous places in the approaching struggle for inde- 
pendence ; others were to be leaders in the church, and distinguished 
educators of youth. Probably no class that has gone forth from the 
College or University in her palmiest days has exerted so widely 
extended and beneficial an influence, especially in the Baptist denom- 
ination, the times and circumstances taken into account, as this first 
graduating class of seven. The occasion drew together a large con- 
course of people from all parts of the Colony, inaugurating what proved 
to be a State holiday in the history of Rhode Island. " And as each 
recurring anniversary," says the historian, "of this time-honored insti- 
tution of learning calls together from distant places the widely-scat- 
tered alumni of Brown University, we do but renew, on a more extended 
scale, the congratulations that crowned this earliest festival."^ The per- 

1 History of Rhode Island, 1636-1790. By Hon. Samuel Greene Arnold, LL. D. 2 vols., 8vo, New 
York, 1859-60. See Vol. 2, p. 299. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 83 

formances of the day excited universal admiration. " We can readily 
imagine," says an early graduate,^ "how the beautiful and benevolent 
face of President Manning was radiant with smiles on this occasion ; 
with what joy he beheld the first fruits of his anxieties, and labors, and 
IDrayers ; with what glowing eloquence he pours forth, at the throne of 
grace, the pious effusions of a grateful heart, invoking the blessing of 
God upon the future efforts of the friends of the infant Institution, and 
tilling every heart with emotion, if not every eye with tears, as, with 
the affection of a friend and the solicitude of a father, he commended 
to the care of Heaven those who were about to depart from him, and, 
at a period of no ordinary moment, to enter a world of temptation and 
trial." 

The following account of this " first Commencement," taken from 
The Providence Grazette and Country Journal^ needs no apology for its 
insertion here. It will be read with special interest by those who have 
attended the Commencements of a later day. 

First Commencement. 1769. 

On Thursday, the seventh of this instant, was celebrated at "Warren the first Com- 
mencement in the College of this Colony ; when the following young gentlemen com- 
menced Bachelors of Arts; namely, Joseph Belton, Joseph JEaton, William Rogers, 
Richard Stites, Charles Thompson, James Mitchel Varnum, and William Williams. 

About 10 o'clock a. m., the gentlemen concerned in conducting the affairs of the Col- 
lege, together with the candidates, went in procession to the meeting-house. 

After they had taken their seats respectively, and the audience were composed, the 
President introduced the business of the day with prayer ; then followed a salutatory 
oration in Latin, pronounced with much spirit, by Mr. Stites, which prociired him great 
applause from the learned part of the assembly. He spoke upon the advantages of lib- 
erty and learning, and their mutual dependence upon each other; concluding with 
proper salutations to the Chancellor of the College, Governor of the Colony, etc., par- 
ticularly expressing the gratitude of all the friends of the College to the Rev. Morgan 
Edwards, who has encountered many difficulties in going to Europe to collect donations 
for the Institution, and has lately returned. 

To which succeeded a forensic dispute, in English, on the following thesis ; namely, 
" The Americans, in their present circumstances, cannot, consistent with good policy, 



1 Hon. Judge Pitman, class of 1799. See Alumni Addres?, 1843. 



84 BKOWN UNIVEESITT Chap. II. 

affect to become an independent state." Mr. Varnum ingeniously defended it, by- 
cogent arguments handsomely dressed ; though he was subtly but delicately opposed 
by Mr. Williams ; both of whom spoke with emphasis and propriety. 

As a conclusion to the exercises of the forenoon, the audience were agreeably enter- 
tained with an oration on benevolence, by Mr. Rogers ; in which, among many other 
pertinent observations, he particularly noticed the necessity which this infant Seminary 
stands in of the salutary effects of that truly Christian virtue. 

At three o'clock p. m., the audience being convened, a syllogistic dispute was intro- 
duced on this thesis: " Matena cogitare non potest," — Mr. "Williams the respondent; 
Messieurs Belton, Eaton, Rogers, and Varnum the opponents, — in the course of which 
dispute, the principal arguments on both sides were produced towards settling that crit- 
ical point. 

The degree of Bachelor of Arts was then conferred on the candidates. Then the fol- 
lowing gentlemen (graduated in other colleges), at their own request received the hon- 
orary degree of Master in the Arts ; namely, Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Morgan 
Edwards, Rev. Samuel Stillman, Rev. Hezekiah Smith, Hon. Joseph "Wanton Jun. Esq., 
Mr. Jabez Bowen, and Mr. David Howell, Professor of Philosophy in said College. 

The following gentlemen, being well recommended by the Faculty for literary merit, 
had conferred on them the honorary degree of Master in the Arts ; namely. Rev. Abel 
Morgan, Rev. Oliver Hart, Rev. David Thomas, Rev. Samuel Jones, Mr. John Davis, 
Mr. Robert Strettle Jones, Mr. John Stites, Rev. James Bryson, Rev. James Edwards, 
Rev. "William Boulton, Rev. John Ryland, Rev. "William Clark, Rev. Joshua Toulmin, 
and Rev. Caleb Evans. ^ 

A concise, pertinent, and solemn charge was then given to the Bachelors by the 
President, concluding with his last paternal benediction, which naturally introduced 
the valedictory orator, Mr. Thompson, who, after some remarks upon the excellences of 
the oratorial art, and expressions of gratitude to the patrons and officers of the Col- 
lege, together with a valediction to them, and all present, took a most affectionate 
leave of his classmates. The scene was tender, the subject felt, and the audience 
affected. 

The President concluded the exercises with prayer. The whole was conducted with 
a propriety and solemnity suitable to the occasion. The audience (consisting of the 

1 The writer of this account has failed to give the names of all who received honorary degrees on 
this occasion. They may be found in the triennial catalogues. Most of them were prominent mem- 
bers of the Philadelphia Association. Samuel Jones and Robert Strettle Jones were instrumental in 
securing the charter of the College ; the former was thought of as Manning's successor in the Presi- 
dency. Stites was Manning's father-in-law. Ryland and Evans were prominent English Baptists 
who afterwards became benefactors of the College. The names of Toulmin, Clark, Boulton, James 
Edwards, and Bryson, are given in Morgan Edwards's list of subscriptions. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 85 

principal gentlemen and ladies of this Colony, and many from the neighboring govern- 
ments), though large and crowded, behaved with the utmost decorum. 

In the evening, the Rev. Morgan Edwards, by particular request, preached a ser- 
mon;' especially addressed to the graduates and students, from Phil. iii. 8: "Yea, 
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ 
Jesus my Lord; " in which, after high encomiums on the liberal Arts and Sciences, the 
superior knowledge of Christ, or the Christian Science, was clearly and fully illustrated 
in several striking examples and similes; one of which follows: — "When the sun is 
below the horizon, the stars excel in glory ; but when his orb irradiates our hemisphere, 
their glory dwindles, fades away, and disappears." 

Not only the candidates, but even the President, were dressed in American manufac- 
tures. Finally, be it observed, that this class are the first sons of that College which 
has existed for more than four years ; during all which time it has labored under great 
disadvantages, notwithstanding the warm patronage and encouragement of many 
worthy men of fortune and benevolence ; and it is hoped, from the disposition which 
many discovered on that day, and other favorable circumstances, that these disadvan- 
tages will soon, in part, be happily removed. 

The Providence G-azette and Country Journal^ a weekly paper, in the 
columns of which appeared the foregoing account of Commencement, 
had been established by William Goddard, in October, 1762, mainly it 
is stated, tlu'ough the influence of Governor Hopkins, in opposition, per- 
haps, to the Neivport Mercury^ established in 1758, which for some rea- 
son had become the vehicle for the expression of loyalist sentiments, 
antagonizing the positions taken by the patriotic leaders of Boston and 
Providence.^ Mr. Hopkins was present at this Commencement as Chan- 
cellor of the Corporation, and undoubtedly wrote the account. The 
allusion to the fact that both the President and the candidates "were 
dressed in American manufactures," is significant. The famous Stamp 



1 The custom, thus inaugurated by Morgan Edwards, of having a sermon on the Wednesday even- 
ing of Commencement, was continued down to the beginning of Dr. Wayland's administration, 
when the " President's Levee " took the place of the Commencement sermon. The usual preachers 
in Dr. Manning's time were Dr. Stillman, of Boston, and Dr. Smith, of Haverhill. In later times 
Dr. Baldwin frequently preached. 

'• It is not known," says Foster, " how direct an agency Governor Hopkins had in securing Wil- 
liam (ioddard as its publisher ; but from the very first issue of this paper, until the very end of the 
(rovernor's career, under each one of its successive publishers, his share in it was continuous." 
•See Stephen Hopkins a Rhode Island Statesjlan. Vol. 2, p. 48. 



bo BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IL 

Act, everywhere denouncecl, went into operation on the 1st of Novem- 
ber, 1765. "The fatal day," says Arnold,^ "dawned upon a nation 
united in their determination of resistance. Not a stamp was to be 
seen. Everywhere the distributors had resigned, some by force, and 
others of their own free will. The wheels of every government in 
America were stopped at once. Commerce was crushed, law was 
annulled, justice was delayed, even the usages of domestic life were sus- 
pended by this anomalous and terrible act. Not a ship could sail, not 
a statute could be enforced, not a court could sit, not even a marriage 
take place, that was not in itself illegal, so far as the British Parliament 
could make it so ; for every one of these acts required the evidence of 
stamped paper to establish its validity." Non-importation agreements 
were at once entered into by the leading merchants in America ; and a 
combination for the support of American manufactures, and to increase 
the supply of wool, by ceasing to consume lamb or mutton, was soon 
afterwards formed. 

The "Forensic Dispute" between Varnum and Williams, on the 
question of American Independence, was also significant. Nowhere in 
all the colonies was patriotism earlier developed and more outspoken 
than in Rhode Island. As soon as it was known that the Stamp Act 
had passed both Houses of Parliament and received the royal approba- 
tion, the minds of both the Governor and the people were made up to 
disregard its provisions. The officers appointed to superintend the exe- 
cution of the law were hanged in effigy at Newport. The cruisers in 
the bay became subjects of popular jealousy and hatred, on account of 
their scrutiny and arrogance. During the summer of 1765 the Maid- 
stone sloop of war lying in the harbor of Newport impressed some 
sailors belonging to the town ; whereupon a mob seized a boat belong- 
ing to the Maidstone and burnt it in a public square. Repeated inci- 
dents like this served to array the feelings of the people more decidedly 
against the officers of the Crown. The day before the Stamp Act w^as 
to take effect, all the royal governors, says Arnold, with Fitch of Con- 



1 History of Rhode Island. Vol. 2, p. 263. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 87 

necticut, took tHe oath to sustain it. Samuel Ward, " the Governor of 
Rhode Island, stood alone in his patriotic refusal."^ Organizations 
under the name of "The Sons of Liberty," and "The Daughters of 
Liberty," sprung up everywhere, and meetings were held in all the 
towns. Thus the spirit of resistance to England gained ground from 
day to day, and popular demonstrations for freedom became frequent. 
On the 19th of July, less than two months before Commencement, the 
British armed sloop Liberty, Capt. William Reid, which had needlessly 
annoyed all the coasting craft in search of contraband traders, had been 
boarded by a mob, dismantled, scuttled, and her boats carried to the upper 
end of the town and burnt. This has been justly claimed as among the 
earliest, in point of time, of the acts of open resistance to British power, 
which terminated in the final separation of the colonies from England. 
It was followed, three years later, by the destruction of the schooner 
G-aspee, when the first blood was shed. 

An account of this memorable Commencement, and especially of 
the discussion of American Independence, which constituted the promi- 
nent feature of the exercises, was given by the writer in a paper read 
before the Rhode Island Historical Society, Dec. 17, 1883, and after- 
wards published as a part of Volume VI I. of its Collections. The 
manuscript containing this discussion, and also the orations, in the hand- 
writing of Charles Thompson, the valedictorian, came into the writer's 
possession many years ago, soon after the publication of " Manning and 
Brown University." It is not a little remarkable that what leading 
statesmen were slow to perceive and cautious to advance, even so late 
as 1775, and 1776, was clearly set forth in almost the very arguments of 
the Declaration, by a young Baptist pupil of President Manning and 
Tutor Howell, as early as 1769, in the little town of Warren, before a 
crowded and approving audience. 

Mr. Varnum presented in an eloquent and attractive manner the 
arguments used by the Royalists, or Tories, as they were afterwards 
termed, for the preservation of peace. The following extract from the 



J Bancroft's History of the United States. 



88 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

closing part of Mr. Williams's address, illustrates the views and patriotic 
feelings that prevailed in Rhode Island at this early period : — 

Their menaces might terrify and subjugate servile, timid Asiatics, who peaceably- 
prostrate their necks to be trampled on by every bold usurper. But my auditors, you 
have not so learned the principles of liberty. You know liberty is our birthright, and 
if this is taken away, we may in part adopt the language of Micah, " What have we 
more?" Besides, how unreasonable is it, that this wide extended continent, formed by 
nature for a kingdom of its own, should pay homage to the diminutive island of Britain, 
but a mere speck upon this huge globe ? I have, as before observed, no aversion to a 
friendly alliance, a close union with Britain, provided we could enjoy that liberty 
wherewith God has made us free. But to purchase their friendship at so dear a rate as 
owning them our masters, is worse than madness ; it is patricide. How could we 
answer it to the manes of our ancestors, should those venerable shades meet, accost, and 
call us to account for such conduct ? How can we answer it to posterity, who must drag 
out a painful life in slavery? Nay, how shall we answer it to ourselves, when the gall- 
ing yoke of slavery bears heavy on our necks ? On the other hand, view the liberty, 
the transporting liberty of America. View millions basking in its beams, and gratefully 
acknowledging their obligations to the venerable names that now stand as pillars to 
support our rights. View America, the largest and happiest empire on earth, the land 
of liberty, the seat of science, the refuge of religion. But my point is gained; your 
countenances indicate the patriotic feelings of your breasts, and with one voice you 
declare that America shall be free. 

A Latin sheet or broadside, fifteen by nineteen inches, handsomely 
printed on good stout paper, was circulated through the house. This 
with the Latin salutatory, and a Latin syllogistic dispute, served to give 
the little College a genuine academic flavor, impressing the minds of the 
hearers, doubtless, with an appearance of superior learning. This cus- 
tom of distributing a Latin broadside at Commencement, containing, in 
addition to the names of the Chancellor, President, Faculty, and Grad- 
uating class, theses in Latin on grammar, rhetoric, logic, mathemat- 
ics, physics, ontology, pneumatology, theology, ethics, and politics, 
was continued from year to year, with slight changes or variations 
until 17-95, when an "Order of Exercises," in English, was substi- 
tuted for the programme. The Latin theses, however, were printed 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 89 

and circulated in octavo form, with the order of exercises, down to nearly 
the close of President Messer's administration. A complete set of these 
broadsides, order of exercises, and theses, collected by the writer, is 
among the treasures of the Library of the University. The following is 
the text of the heading of this first broadside, which we introduce as an 
illustration of "ye early days." The size of our page will not admit 
of an exact reproduction of the original : ^ — 

Benevolentissimo 

Ac eximia virtute, (.loctrinaqiie utilissima praeclito, viro, 

STEPHANO HOPKINS, ARMIGERO, 

Collegii hujiisce, intra Coloniae Insulae Rliodiensis Fines, Cancellario ; 

Admodum Reverando aeque ae Honorando Jacobo Manning, Praesidi, 

Omnibns artibus liberalibus scientiisque, et pietate praesigni induto, cujus 

sub moderamine sequentia philosopbemata sunt defendenda ; 

Totis Curatoribus et Sociis eruditissimis, hujusce Academiae Observantissimis ; 

Doctissimo pariterque dignissimo Davidi Hoell, ejusdem Seminarii Tutori ; 

Denique, omnibus desiderio scientiae afflatis, ubicunque in terrarum orbe, tam Eccles- 

iarumPastoribus,quamReipublicaebene meritis, paecipue nostroCoIlegiofaventibus ; 

Theses hasce (Numine fausto) Juvenes, in artibus initiati, defensuri, 
JosEPHUs Belton, Gulielmus Rogers, Jacobus Mitchel Varnum, 

JosEPHus Eaton, Richardus Stites, Gulielmus Williams. 

N. B. Nomina alphabetice Carolus Thompson, Sumnia observantia. D. D-D. C.Q. 

disposlta sunt. 

Under the names of the graduating class the reader will notice the 
following: — "N. B. Nomina alphabetice disposita sunt." In the older 
colleges a different practice had prevailed. In all the Harvard cata- 
logues previous to 1773, says Sibley, Hhe graduates in each class are 
arranged, not in alphabetical order, but according to their social posi- 



1 A photographic fac-simile of the original sheet or broadside, whicli served as a programme at 
this first Commencement, was piiblished in the Mercury and Gazette (l^o. 3) which was the official 
organ of the "Rhode Island Days of Auld Lang Syne," Providence Opera House, April 6th-llth, 
1896, the same being under the auspices of the Colonial Dames and Daughters of the American 
Revolution. 

2 Catalogues of Harvard University. By John Langdon Sibley. See Proceedings of the Massa- 
chusetts Historical Society, 1864r-1865. 

12 



■90 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. II. 

tion or family rank. Judge Wingate, writing to Librarian Peirce, 
respecting the excitement which was generally called up when a class in 
college was "placed," says, "the scholars were often enraged beyond 
bounds for their disappointment, and it was some time before a class 
could be settled down to an acquiescence in the allotment." The 
higher part of the class, those whose names came first in the earlier cat- 
alogues, generally had the most influential friends ; and they commonly 
had the best chambers in college assigned them. They also had a right 
to help themselves first at the table in commons. "I think," Judge 
Wingate concludes, " that the government of the college, in my day, 
was a complete aristocracy." A practice similar to this prevailed when 
families were seated in church. Democratic, liberty-loving Rhode 
Island, which had, in face of the ecclesiastical laws of the Massachu- 
setts Bay touching the erection of meeting-houses, been without a house 
of worship for sixty years, would not be likely, in the beginnings of its 
first and only College, to follow the aristocratic rulings of Harvard and 
Yale. Hence the alphabetical arrangement thus publicly announced. 
The same note appears in the early Latin or triennial catalogues. 

The following brief biographies of the members of this first gradua- 
ting class, may fitly close this chapter of our history. Concerning 
Joseph Belton, who heads the list in the programme, we have thus 
far no definite information. Like many other patriotic young men of 
his time, he may have enlisted in the service of his country and per- 
ished in battle. He was from Groton, Connecticut, and was matricu- 
lated, as appears from the document to which reference has already been 
made, on the 4th of November, 1766. Joseph Eaton, the next on 
the list, was also matriculated in November, 1766. He was from Hope- 
well, New Jersey, and was the son of the Rev. Isaac Eaton, founder of 
the Academy. In Edwards's "Materials towards a History of the Bap- 
tists of New Jersey," published in 1792, we find this paragraph : — " Mr. 
Eaton's (Rev. Isaac) wife was Rebecca Stout, by whom he had many 
children ; some died single ; but Joseph, David, and Pamela, married 
into the families of the Turners, Potts, and Humphreys, and have raised 
him eight grandchildren." In the list which Edwards gives of the 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 91' 

graduates of Hopewell Academy, he speaks of Joseph Eaton as a 
physician who practiced his profession, and died some time previous to 
the year 1790. 

Of William Rogers, the "first student," we have already given a 
sketch. His "Intermediate Oration on Benevolence" is preserved 
among the papers of the valedictorian, Charles Thompson. Our read- 
ers will thank us for giving it a place in the pages of the present 

work : — 

Oration on Benevolence. 

by william rogers. 

When I look around, and behold the smiling visage and splendid appearance of this 
polite and learned assembly; when I reflect on this auspicious day, as also on the honor, 
the distinguishing honor, you are pleased to confer on this seat of the Muses, by afford- 
ing an attentive ear to the broken accents of her eldest though infant sons; gratitude 
excites me to applaud the noble principle which inspires your generous minds. While 
you recur to the rapturous sensations of your own breasts to judge of the genuine ope- 
rations of the subject contained in the sequel ; I flatter myself you will consider my 
inexperience and youth, and make all due allowance for these disadvantages. Con- 
vinced that the wise and unprejudiced will receive with approbation the feeble efforts 
of an honest heart, I shall enter on my agreeable task, cheerfully relying on your can- 
dor and indulgence. The subject to which I would solicit your attention is Benevo- 
lence — a subject which affords a prospect infinitely variegated by the tenderest pro- 
ductions of a refined nature — a prospect that courts the attention and attracts the 
admiration of all that are in anywise capable of the tender feelings of humanity. 

Benevolence is that amiable virtue which prompts us to wish well, and perform kind 
offices to others. Friendship is but the offspring of benevolence, and contracts its 
views within a narrower sphere. But this disdaining to be circumscribed by any 
limits, diffuses its agreeable influence to the remotest corners of society. The source 
from whence this engaging virtue is derived is heaven itself. It originally proceeds 
from the grand parent of every species of goodness. The exalted nature of seraphic 
beings is peculiarly adapted to this agreeable flame. It there buds in eternal youth. It 
there shines with growing splendor, in a soil peculiarly calculated to cherish such a 
divine production. It filled the lofty emporium with ambrosial fragrance only, until 
divine munificence sowed the seeds, or rather transplanted Benevolence in full maturity 
into human nature. And surely it was infinitely fit such a generous plant should be 
cultivated in every soil productive of rational beings. But Lucifer, in whom malice 
against the king of heaven had totally extinguished this celestial spark, envying man's- 



92 BKOWN UNIVEKSITT Chap. II. 

superior felicity, and the possession of that inestimable inheritance which he could 
never hope to regain, made one dreadful effort to erase it forever from the heart of man ; 
and had succeeded in his foul design had not the seasonable interposition of a superior 
power defeated his infernal project. 

This noble principle is composed of the more rational feelings of an immortal mind. 
It towers above the classes of private connections, whether natural or acquired ; and 
considers man as a social being, a part of a grand whole, formed for a reciprocation of 
interests ; partaker of a common nature ; subject to all the vicissitudes of a weak, 
defenseless constitution ; and dependent on society for mutual assistance. It views 
him as not made for himself, not independent of others ; and therefore prompts him to a 
sensible regard for the happiness of mankind. When any scheme is projected for public 
utility, with what alacrity does it afford the best assistance ! "When a friend, an acquaint- 
ance, or even a stranger is in distress, it listens with profound attention to the melting 
strains of calamity. Sympathy operating, it extends a generous hand and grants a kind 
relief. "When liberty, the dearest proj)erty of man is invaded, when tyranny advances 
with menacing gigantic strides, and threatens to trample under foot the sacred rights of 
the people, and erase the very foundation of civil society ; regardless of private happi- 
ness, attentive to the prosperity of the whole, and the fate of posterity, with what zeal, 
with what vehemence is this principle exerted and displayed! 

Before I dismiss this agreeable subject I must beg liberty to observe that Benevo- 
lence shines most conspicuous when it proposes the greatest public utility. As the pur- 
poses of education, therefore, are the most noble and perfective of our rational nature, 
I am constrained to mention the great obligation this infant Seminary is under, to many 
gentlemen in this Assembly, whose laudable zeal for the good of society, has excited 
them to take it by the hand, and conduct it through oppositions it must of necessity have 
met with in its feeble state. Under your patronage it now shines in gentle glories ; and 
we confidently trust, it will in some future period, tower with superior eminence. Then 
with what deep felt joys, with what pleasing veneration will this Colony, will North 
America recognize the memory of its first benefactors. 

Finally, my worthy auditors, I may recommend this principle, as absolutely requisite 
to constitute the gentleman, the sage, and the Christian ; as that which fills the mind 
with those purer joys, which not only bear a distant resemblance to, but in their nature 
are the same which glow in the breasts of kindred spirits above. Let us therefore 
catch, and as we catch, increase the blaze, until it shall re-enkindle, or rather burst out, 
and mingle flames in the pure element of love. 



1763-17(39. and manning. 93 

Richard Stites. 

RiCHAED Stites, as has already been stated, was the brother-in-law 
of President Manning, being the youngest son of John Stites, Esq., 
mayor of Elizabethtown. He was born at Connecticut Farms in 1747, 
being therefore twenty-two years of age at the time of his graduation. 
He was prepared for college at the Hopewell Academy, and matricu- 
lated by President Manning, on the 20th of June, 1766, as his second 
student. A copy of his Latin salutatory, which the Grazette states was 
pronounced with much spirit, and procured him great applause from 
the learned part of the assembly, is preserved with the other orations. 
Immediately after graduating, he entered upon the study of law, and 
on the 2d of May, 1771, as appears from the records, he was admitted 
to the bar. He practised in Elizabethtown. On the 12th of May, 
1776, he married Sarah, daughter of John Dennis, of New Bruns- 
wick, at that time state treasurer. Several months previous to this he 
had been commissioned as captain in Heard's brigade. General Nathan- 
ael Greene's division of the Continental Line. During the disastrous 
battle on Long Island, August 27, 1776, he was severely wi^unded, and 
taken to his home, where he died a few days afterward. In March fol- 
lowing a son was born, Richard Montgomery Stites, who was eventually 
placed in President Manning's care, and by him litted for college. He 
was graduated in 1792, one year after Manning's death. A grandson 
named Richard Montgomery Stites, a civil engineer by profession, is now 
living in Morristown, New Jersey. To him we are specially indebted 
for these particulars respecting his ancestor. 

James Mitchel Varnum. 

James Mitchel Varnum was born in Dracut, Massachusetts, in 
the year 1749. He was graduated therefore at the age of twenty. 
While a student at Cambridge, he had developed a remarkable capacity 
for learning, and although, as his biographer states, somewhat dis- 
sipated in his habits, made liberal acquisitions in general knowledge 
and literature. He was especially attached to mathematical science 



94 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II, 

and delighted in its pursuit. Why he should have left the venerable 
halls of Harvard to connect himself Avith the infant Seminar}- at 
Warren, has always seemed to many a mystery. Perhaps the solu- 
tion of it may be found in Quincy's History of the University. In 
April, 1768, the author states, there were serious disturbances at Har- 
vard. Tutors's windows were broken, other outrages were commit- 
ted, and lives even were endangered. Three under-graduates were 
expelled, others were rusticated, and several ring-leaders gave up 
their chambers and left the college. Mr. Varnum may have been 
one of this number. The date of his admission at Warren, May 23, 
1768, favors this view. Furthermore, he may have become dissatis- 
fied with the Senior instruction at Harvard. President Holyoke, who 
had been in office since 1737, was now an old man, in his eightieth 
year, and in feeble health. Indeed he died the year following. 
On the other hand, he had probably heard through Hezekiah Smith, 
who was then preaching at Haverhill with wonderful power and 
success, and was a welcome visitor at his father's house in Dracut, 
of the remarkable gifts of President Manning, and of his associate 
instructor, Tutor Howell. 

After graduating, Mr. Varnum taught for a while a classical school ; 
and to this period of his life he ever afterwards referred as a season of 
special benefit. In the year 1771 he was admitted to the bar, having 
studied law in the office of Oliver Arnold, Esq., then the Attorney 
General of the Colony. Soon afterwards, he established himself in the 
town of East Greenwich, where he rapidly rose to distinction in his 
profession, his great talents securing for him an extensive practice. 
Two years previous to this time he had married a daughter of Cromel 
Child of Warren, whose acquaintance he formed while a student. The 
following extract from the "Memoirs of Elkanah Watson, or Men and 
Times of the Revolution," presents a pleasing description of his powers 
of eloquence at this period: — 

Mr. Varnum was one of the most eminent lawyers and distinguished orators in the 
colonies. I first saw this learned and amiable man in 1774, when I heard him deliver 



176i]-n(39. AND MANNING. 95 

a Masonic oration. Until that moment I had formed no conception of the power and 
charms of oratory. I was so deeply impressed, that the effect of his splendid exhibi- 
tion has remained for forty-eight years indelibly fixed upon my mind. I then com- 
pared his mind to a beautiful parterre, from which he was enabled to pluck the most 
gorgeous and fanciful flowers, in his progress, to enrich and embellish his subject. 
Lavater would have pronounced him an orator, from the vivid flashing of his eye, and 
the delicate beauty of his classic mouth. 

Mr. Varnum had a decided taste for military life, and in 1774 was 
commander of the "Kentish Guards," a company which, from its 
acquirements in military tactics, became the nursery of many distin- 
guished officers during the Revolutionary War. Among them may be 
mentioned Major Whitmarsh, Col. Christopher Greene, and Rhode 
Island's greatest general, Nathanael Greene, who was second only to 
Washington. The prominent part which Varnum had taken in the 
colonial controversy induced him, upon the breaking out of hostilities, 
to offer his services to the Government. He was at first a colonel in 
the American army, but in February, 1777, Congress promoted him to 
the rank of brigadier-general. He continued in the army several years, 
and saw some service, commanding a brigade in Sullivan's expedition 
on Rhode Island. He was a good disciplinarian, and invaluable in 
council. He wielded a vigorous pen, commanding a rich flow of elo- 
quence, embellished by the ornaments and graces of rhetoric. 

While in command at Taunton, he addressed an admirable letter to 
the chief officer of the Hessians in Rhode Island, and sent it in by a 
flag. The letter was a transcript of his views on the great controversy 
with England, and was considered an able argument on the subject. 
It was subsequently published in England, and reflected much credit 
on the author. In 1779 he resigned his commission, and returned to 
his former profession. The Legislature, in consideration of his national 
services, and the more effectually to secure them in defense of the 
State, elected him Major-General of the militia of Rhode Island, an 
office to which he was annually re-elected during the remainder of liis 
life. In 1780 he was appointed a delegate to the Congress of the Con- 
federation, and again in 1786. As that body sat with closed doors, liis 



96 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

voice could not be heard by the public ; but his name often appears in 
the published journals of the proceedings. 

The great forensic effort of General Varnum was in the celebrated 
case of Trevett against Weeden, in the fall of the year 1786. The 
General Assembly, at its May session, with a wilful blindness unparal- 
leled in the annals of civilization, had emitted the enormous sum of 
£100,000 in paper bills, making them "a good and lawful tender for 
the complete payment and final discharge of all fines, forfeitures, judg- 
ments, and executions of every kind and nature whatsoever." It also 
passed acts making it criminal to refuse said bills in exchange for arti- 
cles of merchandise, and depriving their opponents of the sacred palla- 
dium of Britons, the trial by jury, and furthermore rendering them, 
even though freemen, ineligible to any office. In the case referred to, 
John Trevett, of Newport, had purchased meat of John Weeden, a 
butcher, and tendered to him bills of the emission of the May session 
of the Legislature in payment ; which bills Weeden refused. Where- 
upon a complaint was made and filed, in accordance with the acts of the 
General Assembly, before Paul Mumford, Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Court. The court consisted of Paul Mumford, Chief Justice, and 
Joseph Hazard, Thomas Tillinghast, and David Howell, associates. 
When the case came up for trial, the whole public was in a state of 
feverish excitement. The merchant closed his store, the farmer left 
his fields, the mechanic his workshop, and all congregated in and 
around the Court-house to await the final issue. If the complaint was 
sustained, then would they be prostrated in utter ruin, and the com- 
merce and business of the State be effectually destroyed. Varnum 
proved himself equal to this emergency. By his resistless eloquence he 
stemmed the tide of power and misrule, and successfully vindicated the 
claims of equity and justice. The Court adjudged that the amended 
acts of the Legislature were unconstitutional, and so void. The tyranny 
of the demagogues was thus overthrown, and the State was saved. 

In the year 1787 General Varnum was appointed by Congress one 
of the judges of the Northwestern Territory, and in the following 
spring entered upon his duties. But disease had enfeebled his body, 



1703-1769. AND MANNING. 97 

and his race was nearly run. He died at Marietta, Oliio, on the 10th 
of January, 1789, at the earl}' age of forty. His funeral was conducted 
with great solemnity and respect. A long procession of mourners — 
private citizens, civil and military officers, gentlemen of the Order of 
the Cincinnati, and Free Masons — followed his remains to the grave. 
His memory is yet fragrant in the annals of Rhode Island. 

A younger brother, Joseph Bradley Varnum, we may add, also served 
as brigadier-general in the war, and was afterwards prominent in 
Massachusetts politics. He was a member of the State Senate, House 
of Representatives, and Council. For sixteen years he was a member 
of Congress, serving two terms as Speaker of the House ; and from 
1811 until 1817 he was a member of the United States Senate. He 
was also a prominent and useful member of the Baptist church in 
Dracut. 

William Williams. 

William Williams was born in Hilltown, Bucks County, Pennsyl- 
vania, in the year 1752. His fatlier emigrated from Wales, and settled 
in this country as a farmer, accumulating a handsome property. The 
son was fitted for college at the Hopewell Academy. He came to War- 
ren in November, 1766, and was the fourth student whom the President 
matriculated. In the autumn following his graduation he married a 
daughter of Col. Nathan Miller, of Warren. Mr. Miller was a 
prominent citizen, and in 1786 was Dr. Manning's colleague as a member 
of the Continental Congress. For several years Mr. Williams remained 
in Warren and engaged in teaching, — an employment for which his 
talents and inclinations especially qualified him. During a revival of 
religion under the preaching of Mr. Thompson, Manning's successor in 
the pastorate, he was converted, and in September, 1771, was baptized 
by his classmate and received as a member of the church. In the year 
1773 he removed with his family to Wrentham, Massachusetts, where 
he opened an academy, which soon attained to high distinction among 
the literary institutions of that day. He is supposed to have had under 
his care nearly two hundred youth, about eighty of wliom he fitted for 

13 



98 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Cpiap. II. 

his Alma Mater. Not a few of these became distinguished in profes- 
sional and political life ; among whom may be mentioned the Rev. Dr. 
Maxcy, successor to Manning ; the Hon. David R. Williams, Governor 
of South Carolina; and the Hon. Tristam Burges, LL. D., Professor 
of Oratorj'- and Belles-lettres in Brown University, and for many years 
a distinguished Representative in Congress. Mr. Williams also con- 
ducted the theological studies of young men with a view to their enter- 
ing the ministry.^ On the 3d of July, 1776, he was publicly ordained 
as pastor of the Baptist church in Wrentham, — an office which he held 
for nearly half a century. Though strictly evangelical in his doctrines, 
he was not regarded as a popular preacher. Quite a number of his early 
manuscript sermons are among the archives of the College library. They 
are written in a plain, legible hand, and exhibit marks of careful prep- 
aration. Mr. Williams, says his biographer, ^ " was not a man greatly 
to attract or impress the multitude in any way, but by a steady course of 
enlightened and Christian activity, he accomplished an amount of good 
for his denomination, which fairly entitles him to a place among its more 
distinguished benefactors. He diffused a spirit of improvement, a love 
of intellectual culture, throughout the circle in which he moved, and no 
doubt his influence will continue, and find new channels through which 
to flow down to posterity, long after the last of his surviving contempo- 
raries shall have passed away. ' ' 

Mr. Williams continued to be engaged as teacher and preacher until 
the close of life. From 1789 until 1818, a period of twenty-nine years, 
he was an honored member of the Board of Fellows of the College. He 
was present in 1804, when the name of the College was changed to 
Brown University. During the war, when the College building was 
occupied as a barrack for the militia, and afterwards as a hospital for the 
French troops, the library was removed to Wrentham and placed in his 
keeping. Messrs. Smith, Stillman, Baldwin, Gammell, and other 
Baptist ministers were frequent visitors at his hospitable home on their 



1 One of his pupils in theology was the lamented Rev. William Gammell, of Newport, father of 
the late Professor William Gammell. 

'Rev. Dr. Abial Fisher. See Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. VI. 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 99 

way to and from Providence. In his diary, under date of Friday, July 
10, 1772, Mr. Smith writes : — " Went at Mr. Williams's request to 
Wrentham to hear his scholars examined and pronounce their orations." 
In 1785 the Warren Association held its sessions in his meeting-house, 
and again in 1802. He died on the 22d of September, 1823, aged 
about seventy-one years. 

A daughter of Mr. Williams died in Wrentham, in 1867, at the 
advanced age of ninety. In her last moments she enjoined it upon those 
around her to see that her father's pine table was given in charge to Samuel 
Warner, Esq., for Brown University. This belonged to her father when 
he was a student at Warren. Its capacious drawer, he used playfully to 
remark, contained all the books that belonged to the College during the 
six years that it was located in that town. The table is now kept as a 
precious memento on the third floor of the new Library Building. The 
contrast between it and its surroundings is striking and very suggestive. 

We append to this brief sketch a copy of Mr. Williams's "parchment," 
which is carefully preserved among the archives. It differs from Presi- 
dent Manning's " parchment" as given in the previous chapter: — 

Omnibus ad quos praesentes Literae pervenerint salutem. Nottxm sit quod Collegii 
in Anglicana Rhodiorum Providentiatiumque Colonia inter Nov. Anglos in America Soci- 
orum Ordo Gulielmo Williams juveni proboet ingenuo, in omnibus Humanitatis Litera- 
rumque Studiis in nostra Academia instituto, et Examine sufficiente previo ajiprobato 
Baccalaurei Gradum decrevit, publicis in Comitiis apud "Warren in Colonia supraditta 
habitis Die Septimo Septembris Annoque Domini Millesimo Septingentessimo Sexages- 
simo Nono. In Cujus Rei Testimonium Sigillum Collegii huic Membranae aflSxum Nom- 
inaque nostra subscripta sunt. 

Jacobus Manning, Praeses. 

David Hoell, Phil,, Prof. 

Thomas Etres, Secretanus. 

Charles Thompson. 

Charles Thompson, the valedictorian of the class, was born in 
Amwell, New Jersey, April 14, 1748. He, too, was fitted for college at 



100 BROWN UmVERSITY Chap. IL 

the Hopewell Academy, coming to Warren with Belton, Eaton, and 
Williams, and being matriculated with them in November, 1766. Having 
the ministry in view and being of age, he commenced preaching while 
a student. When the College was removed to Providence, President 
Manning was persuaded to remove also with his undergraduates. This 
was in May, 1770. In the autumn following, Mr. Thompson was called 
to preach at Warren as a candidate for settlement. The year following 
he was ordained as pastor of the church.^ About this time he mar- 
ried a daughter of Sylvester Child, one of the leading citizens of the 
town. 

A great blessing attended the ministry of Mr. Thompson, so that 
during the four years of his pastorate the membership of the church 
was nearly doubled. But when the War of the Revolution broke out, 
its sad effects were specially visible among his people. He was at once 
appointed a chaplain in the American army, which office he held till 

1778, a period of three years. While at home on a visit, the English 
troops came up to Warren, and on the morning of May 25, 1778, burned 
the meeting-house, parsonage, arsenal, and several private dwellings, 
and carried away Mr. Thompson as a prisoner. He was confined at 
Newport; but in about a month was released, by what means he 
never knew. . He afterwards preached at Ashford, Connecticut, until 

1779, when he became pastor of the church in Swansea. During his 
ministry of twenty-three years at this latter place, there were several 
extensive revivals of religion : one immediately after his settlement, when 



1 The following accovmt of liis ordination is taken from the Providence Gazette for July 6, 1771. 
President Manning, it will be observed, took no part in the exercises. For some years there was a 
coolness on the part of the church toward him because of his decision to go with the College to 
Providence : 

" On Wednesday last (July 3) was ordained to the work of the ministry at Warren in Bristol 
County, by the unanimous choice of the Baptist church and congregation in that town, the Rev. 
Charles Thompson, A.B., the first son of Rhode Island College that has yet engaged in the sacred office. 
Rev. Ebenezer Hinds, of Middleborough, began the solemnity with prayer, and preached an excel- 
lent sermon on the occasion to a polite and crowded auditory, from 2 Tim., 2 : 15 : ' Study to show 
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word 
of truth.' Rev. Noah Alden, of Bellingham, delivered the charge, Mr. Hinds gave the right hand 
of fellowship, and Mr. Alden concluded with prayer. The whole was conducted with that solemnity 
and order which the importance of the occasion demanded, and afEorded the highest satisfaction to 
every one present, particularly to the patrons and friends of the College." 



1763-1769. AND MANXIXG. 101 

seventy-five persons were baptized and added to tlie cliurcli ; one in 1789, 
when fifty persons were baptized ; and a tliird in 1800, of still greater 
extent, which resulted in the admission to the church of a hundred new 
members. He died in Charlton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, on 
the 4th of May, 1803, in the full confidence of passing to a better world. 
In consequence of the poverty and distractions of the times his pecuniary 
support was small, so that he was obliged to labor with his own hands, 
keep store, and instruct scholars, in order to obtain a living for himself 
and family. 

"Mr. Thompson," says his biographer,^ "was tall, spare, and of a 
fine figure. The expression of his countenance was indicative at once of 
a vigorous intellect, and an amiable disposition. He placed a high 
value upon time, and improved all his hours to good purpose. In his 
family, and in the church, he was a model both of kindness and firm- 
ness. As a preacher he held a very high rjink. He had a voice of great 
compass, and its tones were sweet and commanding. He had great 
depth and tenderness of feeling, and he often wept with his people, while 
he occasionally addressed them in a voice of thunder. His sermons 
were carefully studied, and sometimes written, but his manuscript was 
never seen in the pulpit, and his language was generally such as was 
supplied to him at the moment. He had a deep sense of his responsi- 
bility, and feared not to proclaim, in all fidelity, the whole counsel of 
God. The church he fed with the bread of life, so that under his minis- 
try they were instructed and rendered holy. 

" He was also very successful in the instruction of youth, being fully 
master of everything which he attempted to teach. He may indeed be 
regarded as having been an accomplished scholar, as well as a devout 
Christian, and an able and a successful preacher. Such talents as he 
possessed could not be hid ; he was often called upon to preach on pub- 
lic occasions, and multitudes, besides the people of his own particular 
church, were benefited by his faithful labors. At liis death, well might 
it be said, 'A great man has fallen in Israel.'" 



1 Rev. Dr. Abial Fisher. See Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. VI. See also Tus- 
tin's Dedication Discourse in Warren. 12mo. Providence, 1845. 



102 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

The original of Mr. Thompson's valedictory address, in his own 
handwriting, was presented to the writer some thirty years ago by Miss^ 
Louisa H. Thompson, daughter of Capt. John B. Thompson, grand- 
daughter of Doct. William Thompson, and great-granddaughter of Eev. 
Charles Thompson, the author. They all resided in Warren, the latter, 
as has already been stated, having been for four years pastor of the 
church. The subject of the Oration, it will be observed, is "The 
Oratorial Art," of which President Manning's entire professional 
life was a happy illustration. Manning himself was a splendid pulpit 
orator, and taught oratory both in his Latin School and in the College^ 
It was in view of this fact, doubtless, that the first Professorship, founded 
by the Hon, Nicholas Brown, when the College received its present 
name, was a " Professorship of Oratory and Belles-lettres." 

THOMPSON'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. 
"The Oratorial Art." 

To gratify and procure the favor of an audience, at once so respectable and candid 
as I have the honor now to address, will be acknowledged by all to be the rational ambi-^ 
tion of a benevolent heart. It will therefore be unnecessary to inform you, that I feel 
an increasing ardor to entertain in the most agreeable manner this assembly, whose 
characters demand veneration and esteem, no less than their countenances promise- 
that candor and indulgence which reason pleads for on the present occasion. 

You are not ignorant, gentlemen, that a finished composition is the production only 
of a long series of studies, joined to a continual exercise in that branch of learning ; 
neither of which is compatible with the short time of our academic course, mostly 
taken up as it is in attention to the languages, arts, and sciences requisite to lay a 
foundation for this. On the other hand, the few accomplished speakers who have 
graced the desk, the Senate, House, and bar, will naturally suggest to you the almost 
unsurmountable difficulties that attend a tolerable degree of perfection therein, even. 
where the Parent of Nature has laid a foundation in the gift of a happy genius. These 
things being duly weighed, I promise myself your benevolent attention to this my 
immature and juvenile exhibition, relying that the goodness of my subject and well 
meant effort will in a great measure, if not entirely, atone for my want of ability and 
injudicious execution. The subject upon which I would glance, by way of introduction, 
to the part assigned me by the Rev. President, in the exercises of this day, is of supe- 



1763-1709. AXD MANXIXG. 103 

rior moment, and has consequently had, not onlj^ the eulogies of the wise and the 
learned from age to age, but can boast of feats as glorious as any of the whole circle 
of the arts and sciences. After this hint need I tell you, I mean the Oratorial Art 
or that irresistible energy accompanying truth delivered by men thoroughly acquainted 
with the human heart, and those springs of action the passions of human nature, to- 
gether with the avenues that lead to them, and the means of awakening and exciting 
them in the most effectual manner. 

This truly useful and popular art is by no means to be considered independent of, or 
detached from the other parts of liberal learning, but in a close connection with every 
branch of polite erudition, or rather as the collected force and perfection of them all. 
For though logic, mathematics, metaphysics and philosophy furnish knowledge for, 
and add strength to, the mind, yet these are rather calculated for entertainment in 
solitude, and, separate from a proper method of communicating our ideas, would be 
as superfluous to society as elaborate volumes on those different subjects in a language 
perfectly unintelligible. Man was formed for society, and is consequently furnished 
with organs by which to communicate his thoughts to others, and enable them to 
receive advantage from his researches ; but, as a bare representation of our ideas by 
those terms stipulated to stand for them is found inadequate to this end, the great 
Author of Nature, to remedy this defect, has furnished us with a variety of tones, 
looks, and gestures, which, by the help of the living voice, render the speaker's heart 
transparent, and enable him to print his own ideas on the hearer's mind in the most 
indelible characters. 

To undertake an enumeration of the rules of this art, or to point out the means by 
which we may arrive at a competent acquaintance therewith, had I the ability, would 
far exceed the brevity of my present design. Let it suffice, then, to evince by a few 
considerations, that Oratory may with justice be styled the mistress of the arts, and 
therefore merits the most A'igorous pursuits of those ambitious of honor. Amongst 
the almost infinite variety of animals which surround this globe, the power of speech 
is granted to none but man. It is highly reasonable, therefore, to conclude that this, 
in conjunction with his soul, is characteristic of his superior dignity. Consequently 
to rate this prerogative high, and carry it to the greatest perfection possible, is alto- 
gether rational. The more it is cultivated and perfected, the more we exceed the 
brutal world, and approach those blessed beings who communicate their knowledge 
with infinite intuitive rapidity and ease. 

But in the illustration of this proposition, I shall principally confine myself to those 
unspeakable advantages with which it is and ever has been attended, in doing which 
I must lead your minds back to those great originals of Greece and Rome ; for a mod- 
erate acquaintance with those ancient republics will at once demonstrate how highly 



104 BROWN UNIYEESITY Chap. II. 

they rated the talent of speaking well. It was the grand object in view in their public 
educations ; therefore their youth were put under the tuition of the ablest masters, 
who, together with teaching them the rules, might exhibit practical lessons, by pro- 
nouncing before their pupils ; — a method more effectual than all the rules in the world 
to teach an art, which principally consisted of a due management of the voice, counte- 
nance, and gestures of the body. This, together with the repeated corrections of those 
judicious doctors, both guarded them against contracting vicious habits of pronuncia- 
tion, and enabled them to renounce those already contracted. Neither was it deemed 
sufficient to have studied and declaimed under one master only, although the most 
skilful of the age. And this, doubt not, was of unknoAvn advantage, both to Demos- 
thenes and Cicero, in forming them for those exalted spheres in which they afterwards 
moved. 

Oh! could you but for a moment transport yourselves to Athens, and in imagination 
there behold that oracle of Greece, that prince of orators ascend the rostrum, sur- 
rounded by the gaping multitude ; could you hear the terrific thunder of his voice, and 
see the light flash from either eye, while all the members of his agitated body proclaim 
the huge emotions of his mind ; could you hear him discharge those thundering volleys 
of execration on the devoted head of an usurping Philip, that invader of Grecian lib- 
erty. — Anon he bursts upon his audience like a hurricane. By his moving figures he 
storms their very hearts, and paints their dangers in such striking colors, as throws 
the theatre into consternation and transport, impatient to snatch their arms, resist, 
fight, bleed, conquer. Could you, I say, for once be admitted to such an interview, 
you would cease to wonder at the prodigious influence of that renowned patriot over 
his fellow citizens ; — for his eloquence had gained him universal empire over the 
hearts of his auditors, so that he could with equal ease lead them on ardent and 
intrigued to the most hazardous enterprises, or recall them from prosecuting ill con- 
certed schemes. It was this which caused Antipater, Alexander's successor, to say, 
that but for Demosthenes, he had taken Athens with less difficulty than Thebes; and 
that his powerful words had done more towards disconcerting his designs, than the 
most formidable army without them; a declaration similar to this averring that 
Demosthenes was the only enemy he had at Athens. From which we see, that those 
powerful enemies deemed his eloquence a more certain defense for his country than 
brazen walls. And may we not with propriety conclude, that had there been a succes- 
sion of Demosthenes, Athens had remained until now. 

But I must leave this native land of science, this university of the world, and pay a 
visit to her rival sister Italy, where the arts were imported from Greece, and which 
was no less indebted to this guardian genius for her grandeur and imperial dignity. 
What but polite literature, of which my theme is a principal ingredient, raised Rome 



1763-1769. AND MANNING. 105 

from a troop of shepherds accidentally packed together upon the banks of the Tiber, to 
that height, that summit of glory and renown, and bequeathed her the appellation of 
mistress of the world, holding even Britain an obscure province of its wide extended 
empire! This land of liberty (for arts and sciences flourish in no other soil), produced 
an exuberant crop of orators, who stood as so many bulwarks to defend the sacred pal- 
ladium of Roman liberty ; — amongst whom the immortal Cicero shone as the moon 
amidst the lesser stars : whose superior talents were so repeatedly and successfully 
employed in the Forum, as well for the defence of his friends, as against the common 
pests of society, endeavoring to emperil the State in civil discord, that they might 
climb to empire on its ruins. How did he marshal all his forces against a daring 
Catiline, a wicked Clodius, and an ambitious C?esar, and by his energetic eloquence, 
like an overwhelming flood, sweep among the combined enemies of the State, or like 
a wide exjiansive conflagration burn up their best concerted measures, that he might 
leave Rome free ! More than once did his powerful voice snatch Rome from the jaws 
of destruction. — As a recompense for which he wore the highest honors of the State, 
and that at a time when other young gentlemen just began to enter upon public life. 

Time would fail me to enumerate the long list of great orators who were so many pil- 
lars to support their respective commonwealths, and whose fame will only be extin- 
guished with the stars. After what has been said I have time only to mention our 
British worthies who have shone in this way ; for nothwithstanding our general inat- 
tention to speaking, there are and have been instances among us, though rare, of heroes, 
who, by the force of good eloquence, have successfully served both church and state. 
Would it not trespass on your patience, I could instance a British Minister, who, by 
availing himself of this power, and employing it in his country's cause, from comparative 
obscurity raised himself in a few years to the first honors of the State, became the idol 
of the people, and by the power of his voice made distant thrones tremble. Need I tell 
you that the heralds of Life who have been happy in this talent, have by turns, with 
such energy and force of expression, painted the joys of heaven and the horrors of the 
infernal world as to enrapture and transport their audience on the one hand, while on 
the other, their voice like peals of thunder assail the astonished ear and their words, 
quick as lightning, pierce their inmost souls, producing a momentary conviction, by 
such striking representations of virtue and vice, as force even the vicious to revere the 
former and in some measure hate the latter. In short, that honor and promotion are 
sure to attend but a moderate proficiency therein, need no other proof than an acquaint- 
ance with facts, which are incontestable. So that this may be justly esteemed the most 
effectual means of extensive utility, as well as the most certain road to preferment; 
than which what other arguments can be conceived necessary to engage persons of all 
characters to admire and pursue it. 
14 



106 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. 

But finally, if there should be any in this assembly so rude in knowledge, so unac- 
quainted with human nature, as to imagine that this art was taught and practised as an 
engine to destroy the force of reason, to subject mankind to the tyranny of passion, and 
enable wicked designing men more effectually to put into execution their mischievous 
designs, they cannot be judged worthy a serious refutation. The judicious knows it 
only offers itself a handmaid to reason, and presupposes the application of sober reason- 
ing to the intellect ; that the constituent qualifications of an orator will not admit such 
an abuse of it ; and that mankind in their present state are so much more powerfully 
aflfected by their eyes and ears, than by any dispassionate application to the under- 
standing only, as to render it of the least importance. It would require no exertion of 
genius to prove this by the most convincing arguments, did not my time and your 
patience require that I should close the part assigned me by taking an affectionate leave 
of this respectable audience. 

And first of all, to you, honored sir, with those other active members of the Corpora- 
ation of Rhode Island College, as well Trustees as Fellows, our cordial gratitude and 
thanks are due for your disinterested and early attention to the founding and endowing 
this seat of learning, where, under your patronage, we have been favored with access to 
the liberal arts and sciences, and with delight have tasted those intellectual pleasures 
which they abundantly afford. Permit us incessantly to pray, that your endeavors to 
promote and perfect this laudable design, may meet with abundant success, and that 
these in company with your other benevolent actions, may follow you, where they shall 
meet the rewards of your benevolence. Gentlemen, in the name of my class, I bid you 
farewell. 

Reverend Sir : The tender and parental concern you have manifested in forming 
our morals, both for our present and future happiness, the unremitted attention to the 
means of our improvement, together with other peculiar favors conferred on us, attach 
us to your person and interest by all the ties of humanity. We beg leave, therefore, in 
this public manner to present you our most humble acknowledgments, and though they 
compose an inadequate offering, yet you will please accept them, as a sure token of the 
deep felt sense of our many obligations. The thought of removing from under your 
paternal inspection fills our hearts with pungent sorrow. But since this day is about 
to effect it, you will allow us to supplicate the Father of all Consolation, to communicate 
all necessary supplies, that your vigorous efforts for the good of society may be crowned 
with abundant success, and yourself reap the rich reward of your virtue. Reverend 
Sir, we bid you an affectionate farewell. 

To you, our worthy and respected Tutor, we next present our sincere acknowledg- 
ments and unfeigned thanks, for the many signal expressions of your affection, but 
principally for your indefatigable and assiduous attachment to our imjirovement in 



1703-1769. AND MANNING. 107 

useful sciences. The many inexpressible favors received from you in this way, have 
rendered and ever will render your memory dear to us. For success in your present 
laudable employment, and that you may largely share the rewards of your every vir- 
tuous and benevolent action, is our hearty desire, while we bid you farewell. 

To use arguments to stimulate you, my fellow students who have not yet completed 
your education, in the pursuit of knowledge, would be a superfluous labor, since you 
have already tasted its delectable sweets and drunk at the uncorrupted fountains of 
antiquity. The ardor ai^parent by your conduct, in the pursuit of truth, promises, nay 
assures you success. And if from our short experience we may be allowed to judge, 
we promise you increasing pleasure through every step of your scientific journey. 
"With ardent wishes for your prosperity, we bid you adieu. 

Neither are we wanting in gratitude to the respectable inhabitants of this town, for 
your humane and courteous treatment during the time of our residence amongst you. 
With ineffable pleasure shall we remember our connections in "Warren when far 
removed from hence. And as we are now about to leave you, in the name of my class 
I bid you farewell. 

The singular honor conferred upon us, by the generous attendance of this polite and 
learned assembly, rendered more brilliant by that dignity and lustre which sparkle 
from the modest fair, excite us to return our thanks while we take our leave of you. 

And must this day dissolve that society, that amicable society, which for years has 
subsisted in this place? Must we now, my dear classmates, launch out into the world, 
and enter upon our new untried scenes, where, unassisted by each other's counsel, we 
must shift as we can on the rude sea of life? How painful the thought! How intol- 
erable ! Perhaps never more to see the faces of the persons who compose the greatest 
joys of our life. What do I not feel for to-morrow! I can readily excuse a tear, and 
should be stupid if I did not echo a sigh for the past scenes of pleasure and mental 
delight through which, hand in hand, we have walked. Now all rise fresh to view and 
painfully augment the pangs of parting. But I cease to pursue the tender story. 
Permit me to take one more affectionate look, and rally all my resolution, while I bid 

you FAREWELL. 



CHAPTER III. 

1769-1770. 

Final location of the College — Morgan Edwards's account — First mention of the sub- 
ject in the Corporation records — Meeting of the Corporation in 1769 — Plans for a 
building in Warren, and committee appointed — Vote of the Church in Warren offering 
the use of the meeting-house on Commencement occasions — Notification for special 
meeting of the Corporation to consider proposals from East Greenwich — Motion to 
have the College in Providence — Meeting of the Corporation in Newport, Nov. 14, 
1769 — Three daj^s' session — Extract from the records — Voted that the College edifice 
be at Providence, provided Newport does not raise a larger subscripton than Provi- 
dence — Arguments presented to the Corporation in favor of Providence, East Green- 
wich, and Newjjort — Increasing interest in the contest — Diary of Dr. Stiles — Cita- 
tion for another meeting of the Corporation to be held in Warren, Wednesday, Feb. 
7, 1770 — Caucuses and town meetings on the subject held in Providence and Newport, 
and hand bills circulated — Anonymous letter to Nicholas Brown from President Man- 
ning — Account of the meeting in Warren — Final action at ten o'clock Thursday 
night in favor of Providence by a vote of twenty-one to fourteen — Letter from Man- 
ning to Hezekiah Smith giving an account of the meeting — Account by Moses 
Brown — Party in Newport disappointed — Sharp letter in the Newport Mercury — Four 
of the fifteen members from Newport voted for Providence — Names of the other 
seventeen members of the Corporation who voted for Providence — Names of the 
fourteen who voted for Newport — Summing up of the controversy by Chancellor 
Hopkins — Unreasonable enmity of the people of Newport to Providence — Move- 
ment for another College, to be located at Newport — William Ellery the leader — 
Article in the Newport Mercury cited — Action of the General Assembly — Special 
meeting of the Corporation held in Warren, April 25, 1770, and remonstrance pre- 
pared — Most important document — Settles points in controversy respecting the ori- 
gin of the College— Account of a seal prepared in anticipation of another college — 
Some special considerations which influenced in the final vote — Providence, a Bap- 
tist town — Letter from Moses Brown to President Wayland, giving reasons why the 
committee on location selected the home-lot of Chad Brown — Extract from the 
record of deeds describing the lot — Building committee — Nassau Hall, Princeton, 
selected as a model for the edifice — Manning's relations with the Church at Warren — 
Decides to go with the College to Providence — Action of the Church — Diary of Dr. 
Stiles — Howland's recollections of Manning and the College in 1770 — Extract from 
Professor Goddard's memoir. 

Up to this date (1769) says Edwards, "the Seminary was for the 
most part friendless and moneyless, and therefore forlorn, insomuch that 
a college edifice was hardly thought of." But after the frequent remit- 



1769-1770. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 109 

tances from friends in England and Ireland, and the general interest 
awakened by the first Commencement, "some began to hope, and 
many to fear, that the Institution would come to something and stand. 
Then a building and the place of it were talked of, which opened a new 
scene of troubles and contentions, and that had well nigh ruined all. 
Warren was at first agreed upon as a proper situation, where a small 
Aving was to be erected in the spring of 1770, and about eight hundred 
pounds raised towards effecting it. But soon afterwards some who 
were unwilling it should be there, and some who were unwilling it 
should be anywhere, did so far agree as to lay aside the said location, 
and propose that the county which should raise the most money should 
have the College. Then the four counties went to work with subscrip- 
tions. That of Providence bid high for it, which made the county of 
Newport, which is jealous of Providence on account of trade, exert itself 
to the utmost. However, Providence obtained it, which so touched the 
jealousy and piqued the pride of the Islanders, as to make many of 
them enemies to the Institution itself. The same is too much the case 
with the other disappointed counties. Nevertheless, by the adventurous 
and resolute spirit of the Browns, and some other men of Providence, 
the edifice was begun in May, 1770, and roofed by the fall of the year. 
The next summer the inside was so far finished as to be fit for the recep- 
tion of scholars." 

The account of the final location of the College, to which the writer 
has devoted thirty-eight pages of a previous work,^ forms an important 
and deeply interesting chapter in the early history of Rhode Island. The 
vote of the Corporation appointing James Manning President and Pro- 
fessor, and authorizing him " immediately to act in those capacities at 
Warren or elsewhere," shows that there was in the beginning an uncer- 
tainty in the minds of membei-s of the Corporation as to the permanent 
location. The first mention of the subject in the records appears under 
date of September, 1768, and reads as follows : — 

Voted, That the Hon. Josias Lyndon, Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Hon. Samuel Ward, 
the President, Nicholas Easton,Esq.,Rev. Russell Mason, and Nicholas Brown, Esq., be 

^ Documentary History of Brown University. 



110 BEOWN UNIYEKSITY Chap. III. 

a committee to examine what place is most suitable to fix the college edifice upon, and 
to make report to the next annual meeting. 

Voted, That the next annual meeting be at Warren. Ordered, That the Secretary do 
notify the next annual meeting at Warren six weeks successively previous to their 
meeting, by an advertisement in the Newport and Providence newsjpapers, and that 'tis 
proposed to take into consideration a suitable place for erecting a college edifice. 

Agreeably to the foregoing votes, the Corporation met at Warren, 
Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1769, the day before Commencement, and after the 
transaction of routine business, adjourned until seven o'clock the next 
morning. At this adjourned meeting the committee made the follow- 
ing report : — 

We, the subscribers, being appointed to consider of the most suitable place to erect 
the College edifice on, are of opinion that said edifice be placed in some part of the county 
of Bristol ; and that a committee be appointed to point such a place as shall be most 
convenient and be had upon the best terms. 

"Whereupon," the record adds, "the Corporation voted generally to 
accept said report, and it was accepted accordingly." 

Resolved, That Sylvester Child, Esq., Mr. John Brown, Capt. John Warren, and Mr. 
Nathan Miller, be a committee to purchase materials, agree for a suitable j)lace to erect 
the edifice on, to take a deed for the same in behalf of the Corporation, and carry said 
building into execution as soon as they can ; and that any three of them be a quorum ; 
and that they be empowered to solicit and receive subscriptions. 

Neither Brown nor Miller were at this time members of the Corpora- 
tion. The former, although the leading man in the erection of the 
building, laying the corner stone, supervising the construction and mak- 
ing up the accounts, was hot made a Trustee until 1774. The latter 
was never a member of the Corporation. At an adjourned meeting 
held Friday morning, September 8th, at seven o'clock, it was 

Resolved, That Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., Mr. Joseph Brown, and Rev. John Davis 
he a committee to draft instructions and prepare a model of the house proposed to be 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. Ill 

erected, to be directions, by the approbation of the Corporation, for the committee 
appointed to carry the same into execution. 

Resolved, That Archibald Campbell, Esq., be added to the committee for placing the 
college edifice. 

At a subsequent stage of the meeting the committee to draft instruc- 
tions reported : — 

1. That a suitable place be procured for erecting the College edifice on the easiest 
terms, and that the title be indisputable ; and that proper and sufiicient deeds of con- 
veyance for said land be taken for the Corporation. 

2. That the building do not exceed sixty-six feet long, and thirty-six wide, and three 
stories high. That it be a plain building, the walls of the best bricks and lime, the win- 
dow and door frames of red cedar ; that there be a cupola for a bell ; that the first build- 
ing be so situated as to be one wing of the whole College edifice when complete ; and 
that there be a cellar under the whole. 

3. As there is a want of time at present, that a committee be appointed to furnish 
the committee for building with a complete draught of the whole building. 

1. That the committee for building procure the best materials on the best and easiest 
terms. 

5. That the committee for building make provision this year, that the workmen may 
begin in the next. 

In accordance with the third recommendation of the foregoing report, 
it was 

Voted, That the Chancellor, the President, and Mr. Joseph Brown be a committee 
to prepare a complete model of the building according to the report of the above com- 
mittee, and deliver the same to the committee for building. 

Voted, That the committee lor building be empowered to draw upon the Treasurer 
for money from time to time to carry on said building, and that they render accounts to 
the Cori^oration at each of the meetings ; which the Secretary is hereby ordered to notify 
successively in the public prints for three weeks before this meeting. 

What funds were in the hands of the Treasurer for building purj)oses 
at this time is nowhere stated. In the diary of Hezekiah Smith, under 
date of Thursday, Sept. 5, 1765, when he was elected a member of the 
Board of Fellows, we read as follows: — "We, although but a part of 



112 BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. III. 

the Corporation, subscribed for the building, and the endowing of the 
College, nineteen hundred and ninety-two dollars." 

It was in reference, doubtless, to this meeting of the Corporation and 
the question of final location, that the church at Warren, immediately 
after Commencement, came together and 

Voted, That the meeting-house of this town he and is for the use of the Corporation 
and President at Commencement times ; and oftener, if wanted by either, only so as not 
to interfere with Divine worship ; Provided, that the College edifice he founded and 
built in the County of Bristol ; and that the parsonage-house in said Warren be for the 
use of the President, so long as the President be our minister. ^ 

Hardly had the Corporation adjourned before efforts were made to 
have the College established in East Greenwich, County of Kent. 
Soon after the meeting the following citation appeared in the Provi- 
dence and Newport papers : — 

This is to notify the members of the Corporation of the College within this Colony, 
that application has been made, by the gentlemen of the County of Kent, setting forth 
that they have opened a subscription for founding and endowing said College, on condi- 
tion that the edifice be erected in the County of Kent ; and desiring an opportunity of 
assigning their reasons to the Corporation for a reconsideration of the vote at their last 
meeting, for erecting the edifice in the County of Bristol. This is therefore to desire all 
the members of the said Corporation to meet at the Court House in Newport, on Tues- 
day, the Mth of November next, at 10 o'clock, a. m., to hear such propositions as shall be 
laid before them, relative to placing said edifice, and transacting any other necessary 
business ; at which time and place the gentlemen concerned in procuring subscriptions 
for the different places are desired, by themselves or their committees, to appear, pre- 
sent their several subscriptions, and oifer their reasons in favor of the respective 
places. By order. 

Thomas Eyres, Secretary. 
October 18, 1769. 

The first motion to have the College in Providence came, so far as 
can be learned, from Mr. Moses Brown, the distinguished founder of 
the Friends' School, or Quaker College. In a letter to his brothers, 

iTustin's Historical Discourse.at the Dedication of the new church edifice. 12mo. Prov., 1845, 
page 126. 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 113 

Nicholas, Joseph, and John, dated Newport, Oct. 23, 1769, he thus 
writes : — 

I liad yesterday, on the road, a fiill conversation with Mr. Sessions on affairs of the 
College. His objections are such to Warren, that he says he cannot encourage it if set 
there, but if it could be erected at Providence, he would give one hundred dollars, and 
engage to jirocure one or two scholars from the country ; and should there be a vacancy 
in the Corporation, he would, if desired again, accept a place therein, and as a member 
do all he could for the College. And when we consider the number of advantages which 
Providence has over Warren, I am much inclined to think that it is yet within our 
reach. 

Agreeably to the citation in the papers, a special meeting of the 
Corporation was held in the Court House at Newport, on Tuesday, Nov. 
14, 1769, at which were present five Fellows, including the President, 
and twenty- three Trustees. During this meeting, which was continued 
three days, the claims of Warren, East Greenwich, Providence, and 
Newport were thorouglily advocated and discussed. Wednesday morn- 
ing it was resolved : — "To recede from the vote of the last meeting to 
erect the College edifice in the County of Bristol. ' ' In the afternoon of 
the same day it was voted : — " That the business of the Corporation be 
not postponed for a distant adjournment." Thursday morning, the last 
day of the meeting, it was resolved : — 

That the place for erecting the College edifice be now fixed ; but that nevertheless 
the committee who shall be appointed to carry on the work, do not proceed to procure 
any materials for the same, excepting such as may be easily transported to any other 
place, should another hereafter be thought better, until further orders from this Cor- 
poration, if such orders be given before the first day of January next. And that in case 
any subscription be raised in the county of Newport or any other county equal or 
superior to any now offered, or that shall be offered, and the Corporation be called 
together in consequence thereof, that then the vote for fixing the College edifice shall 
not be esteemed binding ; but so that the Corporation may fix the edifice in another 
place, in case they shall think proper. 

It was then voted., " That the College edifice be at Peovi- 
DENCE ; that the President, Job Bennet, Esq., Mr. John Brown, 
Capt. John Warren, and Mr. John Jenckes be a committee to fix a 

15 



114 BKOWN UNIYEESITT Chap III. 

suitable place for building the edifice ; that the Chancellor, Mr. Jolm 
Brown, Capt. John Warren, and Sylvester Child, Esq., be a committee 
to carry on the building of the College edifice." 

Mr. Brown, as has been observed, was not at this time a member 
of the Corporation. Mr. Jenckes was the only son of Judge Daniel 
Jenckes. Judge Jenckes died in 1774, when his son succeeded him as 
a member of the Board of Trustees. Governor Sessions, in accordance 
with Mr. Brown's suggestion, was made a Trustee in 1770. His views 
in general in regard to a suitable place for the location of a seminary of 
learning, which it appears were presented at this meeting of the Cor- 
poration in Newport, have been preserved on file. The reader who 
consults the "Documentary History" will find them, as there pre- 
sented, entertaining as well as instructive. Mr. Sessions gives five 
reasons why Providence should be preferred to either Warren or East 
Greenwich. His third reason, that "the town should be large and 
populous, so that on Commencements, or other public occasions, the 
large number of people that usually attend may be agreeably enter- 
tained and provided for," shows that the Commencement at Warren, 
and the large number of friends and strangers who crowded the little 
town of less than one thousand inhabitants on that occasion, made an 
impression upon his mind. His final argument, that "a college should 
not be erected where communication is liable to be interrupted by a 
hard frost or high and contrary winds," thus "cutting off all supplies 
of fuel, provisions, and other necessaries, and preventing mutual inter- 
course," suggests a marked contrast to the facilities of communication 
in these days of telegraph and telephone, of steam and electric locomo- 
tion. 

The memorial from East Greenwich, which appears to have been 
presented on the last day of the meeting, is signed by William Greene, 
Nathanael Greene, Jr., Preserved Pearce, and Charles Holden, Jr. 
Chief Justice Greene, whose name appears at the head of the commit- 
tee, was in 1778, elected Governor of the State, which office he held 
eight years. He was chosen a Trustee of the College in 1785, as the 
successor of Governor Hopkins, deceased. It seems hardly necessary 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 115 

to add that the second name upon the list is that of one who afterwards 
became the distinguished Major-General of the American Revolution, 
and was now about to take his first lessons in public life as a member 
of the General Assembly from Coventry. Mr. Pearce, or Major Pearce, 
as he was called, was at this time a member of the Assembly from East 
Greenwich, while Mr. Holden, a few years later, represented the town 
of Warwick. The arguments urged by the memorialists were : first, 
that East Greenwich was situated nearly in the centre of the Colony ; 
secondly, that the Government would be more likely to take the Col- 
lege under its care and protection at East Greenwich than elsewhere ; 
and thirdly, that the town of East Greenwich was well situated for 
pleasantness, surrounded with a country abounding with every neces- 
sary supply, having a post-office and easy communications, while 
Providence, it was urged, though well calculated for trade, was too 
large and populous for a college. 

The memorial from Providence, which was presented on the second 
day of the meeting, is signed by John Cole, Moses Brown, and Hay- 
ward Smith. Mr. Cole, who was postmaster, had been for several 
years a member of the General Assembly, and since 1762 had been 
chairman of the Town Council. Mr. Brown, it is needless to add, was 
one of the leading citizens of the town. The first reason urged in 
behalf of Providence was, that the inhabitants had generously sub- 
scribed for the Institution eight hundred pounds, or nearly twenty- 
seven hundred dollars ; and that their conditional subscription amounted 
to six thousand two hundred and sixty dollars more ; secondly, that 
the intention of the charter was to found a college or university upon 
the most Catholic principles subject to the control of the Baptist 
denomination at whose expense it would be chiefly supported, and that 
Providence had every advantage for free public worship and liberty of 
conscience ; thirdly, that the situation of the town was central ; that it 
had four public school-houses ; a public library ; all the materials 
necessary to erect the buildings ; and " two printing offices, which will 
much contribute to the emolument of the College, there being thus 
published a weekly collection of interesting intelligence, which not only 



116 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. 

tends to the enlargement of the minds of the youth, but will give them 
early opportunities of displaying their genius upon any useful and 
speculative subjects, and which must excite in them an emulation to 
excel in their studies." The argument of the memorialists based upon 
the "two printing offices," has at least the merit of novelty. Whether 
the "early opportunities of displaying their genius " thus afforded the 
students, would be recommended by the Professor of Rhetoric and 
English Literature in these later days, or be satisfactory to the learned 
readers of the Providence Journal^ we will not attempt to say. John 
Milton's ' ' Speech for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing ' ' may possi- 
bly have had something to do with the suggestion of this argument. 

From all that appears, the reliance of Providence in the contest for 
the College now in progress, was not so much upon the generous sub- 
scriptions of its citizens, as upon their disinterested zeal and the perfect 
religious freedom which prevailed among them, so entirely in harmony 
with the spirit of the College charter, and in accordance with the prin- 
ciples upon which the Colony had been founded. Providence contained 
about this time, according to Dr. Stiles's estimate, "five hundred dwell- 
ing-houses, and about four thousand inhabitants, or half as big as New- 
port." . . . " I estimate one hundred families real Baptists; one hun- 
dred and forty political Baptists and nothingarians ; one hundred and 
forty Mr. Snow's congregation, two-thirds Baptists, one-third Presbyte- 
rians ; sixty Pedobaptist Congregationalists ; forty Episcopalians ; 
twenty families, Quakers, a few Sandemanians, and about twenty or 
forty persons. Deists."^ The prevailing religious sentiment, it will thus 
be seen, was largely Baptist, and hence in sympathy with a Baptist col- 
lege. In Newport, on the contrary, there was an Episcopal element, 
the many revenue officers and servants of the Crown residing there, and 
not a few of the princely merchants being attached to the Church of 
England. There were also two flourishing Congregational churches, 
the first under the care of Samuel Hopkins, the founder of a new school 
of theology, and the second under Ezra Stiles, whom the historian 



1 Extracts from Dr. Stiles's diary, under date of Nov. 13, 1771, and Aug. 25, 1772. See Appendix 
to President Sears's Centennial Discourse, pages 100-101. 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 117 

Oreene designates as "the most learned American of his day." Tlie 
main opposition to the College in the beginning, as will be seen in our 
chapter on the charter, came from the Congregationalists ; and they 
continued for many years to show an unfriendly spirit, as the pages of 
Manning, Backus, and Smith throughout show. 

The increasing interest taken in the location of the College by the 
various contending parties, and the general views and considerations 
which influenced their actions, may be readily inferred from a well writ- 
ten article which appeared in the Newport Mercury^ under date of Nov. 
20, 1769 ; in which the writer, after dwelling upon the reputation of 
the island for health and pleasantness, and the advantages of the Red- 
wood Library which the professors and students might enjoy, shows that 
the interests of the town would be greatly promoted by "boarding and 
supplying so many persons coming from abroad and spending their 
money among us." In the diary of Dr. Stiles, under date of Jan. 3, 
1770, is an important entry : — 

Dr. Eyres visited me this morning to discourse about the place of the Baptist College. 
He tells me that Providence has subscribed £3,090, lawful money, of which about £2,200 
is truly conditioned that the College edifice be erected there ; but, of the £800 they had 
before subscribed unconditionally, they had the subscription papers in their own hands , 
and refused to deliver them, holding in this manner about £500 conditioned. Dr. Eyres 
said that the Newport subscription was about £2,700, but said they did not choose to 
mention the amount exactly, nor how much conditionally. The case is this : — Mr. Red- 
wood and some others have said they would give largely in case it was here ; but that 
Providence, by artifice and stratagem would eventually get it there ; and yet would not 
subscribe, but will undoubtedly give liberally. So there is a real uncertainty. They 
are endeavoring to get a meeting of the Corporation but Providence opposes it. Mr. 
Manning, the President, is for Providence. 

From a letter addressed by Messrs. Nicholas, John, and Moses 
Brown to their brother Joseph, then in Newport, it appears that the 
Providence subscriptions at the close of the year 1769, had reached the 
sum of £3,424, lawful money, or about twelve thousand dollars. The 
friends of the College in Newport now redoubled their exertions, and 
raised a sum larger than had been raised in Providence. Notwithstand- 



118 BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IIL 

ing the exertions of the Browns to "stop the meeting," a citation for 
the Corporation to meet at Warren on the 7th of February, 1770, was 
published in the papers of the day, signed by three Fellows, namely, 
Joshua Babcock of Westerly, Thomas Eyres, and Henry Ward of 
Newport ; — 

"Whereas, the county of Newport hath raised a larger sum than any that hath yet 
been offered to the Corporation of the College in this Colony, to he paid to the Treas- 
urer upon condition that the College edifice be erected in the town of Newport : — 
This is therefore to notify members of the said Corporation to meet together at Warren, 
on Wednesday, the 7th day of February next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to take into 
consideration any proposals that may be made for placing the College edifice, and to 
transact any other necessary business. At which time and place, the persons con- 
cerned in procuring subscriptions are desired to attend, by themselves or their com- 
mittees. 

From this time on, the interest in the question of location increased 
from day to day. Letters were written to parties in the country, hand- 
bills were posted throughout the two towns, caucuses were held, and 
the matter was discussed in the shops and on the corners of the streets. 
On the Monday previous to the final meeting of the Corporation, the 
following handbill was circulated : — 

Providence, Monday, Feb. 7, 1770. 

The inhabitants of this town and county are desired to meet at the Court House, 
this afternoon, at two o'clock, to hear and consider of some effectual plan for establish- 
ing the College here. As this is a matter of the greatest consequence, and the Corpora- 
tion is to meet on Wednesday next, a general attendance is earnestly requested. 

In accordance with this call, a large number of the inhabitants- 
assembled at the place designated, and the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq.,^ 
was chosen Moderator. John Cole and Moses Brown were continued 
a committee to lay the subscriptions before the Corporation, and the 
following gentlemen were added thereto, viz.: — Hon. Darius Sessions, 
John Andrews, Joseph Nash, David Harris, Daniel Tillinghast, John 
Jenckes, Amos Atwell, Joseph Bucklin, Jeremiah Whipple, Esq., and 
Knight Dexter. 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 119 

The following spirited letter from President Manning, addressed to 
" Mr. Nicholas Brown, in Providence," shows that he was a skilful 
tactician, and that he used his great influence in favor of Providence. 
It gives an animated view of the nature of the contest, and of the 
earnest determination of the parties at issue : — 

Sir: — The time is now at the doors when it will be determined whether Providence 
or Newport shall have the College ; and as I think that the former is the fittest place for 
it, I would give you a gentle hint, that you may be prepared in the best manner to stand 
your ground. I expect Newport will exceed you in the largeness of their subscriptions, 
for they gave bonds last week for three thousand two hundred pounds, and had not 
rendered the subscriptions from Block Island, South County, nor from the Eastern 
shore, in all which places there was money subscribed for Newport. Neither can I tell 
whether the Warren subscriptions were contained in that bond. Besides, they were 
still subscribing in Newport. Redwood has at last subscribed his five hundred pounds 
sterling, etc. Now, as I am a friend to the College, and think your place the best for 
its settlement, I would advise you to get every farthing you can subscribed. But if, 
when you come to compare notes, you should fall behind them, they will make a great 
noise if you take in your unconditional subscriptions and plead your agreements for 
materials, etc., etc. 

Now, as I think you have the good of the College at heart more than they, it will 
stand you in hand to demonstrate this in the clearest light ; and this you can do by 
proffering to build the College yourselves, without even taking their unconditional 
subscriptions in Newport. Say nothing about the President's house ; but consult how 
large a house you can build, and finish two stories with your own money, in as short a 
time as you possibly can accomplish it, and engage to finish the rest as fast as wanted ; 
for here you know you may have your own time, since boarding can always be had in 
town, and many will always choose to board there. So that the President can help you 
here to sufficient time to pick up money from other parts, or even enable you to finish the 
other rooms with the rent of those that are finished. Two advantages will result from 
such a proposal. First, you will throw your unconditional subscription out of their 
light, and give it its full weight in favor of Providence. Secondly, you can here make 
all the advantage to yourselves, from lying handy to the materials; the whole weight 
of this will be thrown directly into your scale, and you can promise just as much more 
than they can, as the edifice can be erected cheaper with you than them, and as you 
will prosecute it with more spirit and do the bargaining and work with less expense. 
Here, too, you will have the advantage of them, as you have made out bills of every- 
thing, and bespoke the materials and workmen, and can push it immediately into exe- 



120 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. 

cution. You might reason a month on these advantages and not make some dull souls 
see the force of it, so well as you can demonstrate it in this way in ten minutes. And 
I think you will be equally as safe in this way as in giving bonds, and it must weigh 
much with the gentlemen who have the welfare of the College at heart. Besides, you 
will take them here at unawares. Give up the other subscriptions in the Colony to 
the Corporation, and let them dispose of them as they think best, and it will be a wonder 
if they don't find out by next May session, that there will be necessity of a house for 
the President, and very probably will lay it out that way. If you fall in with this pro- 
posal, it will be proper for four, five or six of you to oblige yourselves to the performance 
under a proper penalty. What I have heretofore said is to secure you against the first 
onset ; but if you should be driven from your post, the next thing is to secure your 
retreat. If, therefore, your vote should be receded from, your hopes must lie in divid- 
ing the members between the four places ; for it would be imprudent to fight NcAvport 
singly. It is possible you may have address enough to get Providence and Greenwich 
highest here, for the Newport members who favor you at heart, may vote for Warren 
and Kent without having their hopes torn down ; and if the contest should finally fall 
between you and Kent, you may guess how it would terminate by the last meeting ; and 
in this way I think all your members in Newport who favor Providence, may vote for it 
without incurring any damage ; — Imean at your final issue. I think you could beat 
Kent with greater ease than Warren or Newport; but of this you are the best judge, 
being an experienced soldier. 

There will many attend the meeting from Newport, for their spirits are very high 
in the cause. Proposals, too, will doubtless be made for an accommodation half way. 
But how great a sum will be offered for this is uncertain as yet. But should I persist 
in spilling ink and spoiling paper longer you may be weary of reading my jargon, and 
be solicitous to know my name, which at present I choose not to reveal. But am, to all 

intents, 

Your Friend, if not Humble Servant. 

N. B. You will excuse the omission of date, as it is quite unnecessary. 

In accordance with the citation in the papers, the Corporation met in 
the Baptist meeting-house in Warren, Wednesday morning, Feb. 7, 
1770. Tliirty-five members were present, as follows : — 

Fellows : — The President , Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Samuel 
Stillman, Doct. Thomas Eyres, Joshua Babcock, Henry Ward, and 
Jabez Bowen, Jr. (7.) 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 121 

Trustees : — The Chancellor, Hon. Samuel "Ward, Hon. Josia& 
Lyndon, Hon. Joseph Wanton, Jr., Rev. Russell Mason, Rev. Gardner 
Thurston, Rev. Samuel Winsor, Rev. Isaac Backus, Rev. John Maxson, 
Nicholas Brown, Joseph Brown, William Brown, Joseph Russell, 
George Hazard, Peleg Barker, John Warren, Nathan Spear, Nicholas 
Cooke, Sylvester Child, John Tanner, Thomas Greene, Eplu-aim Bowen, 
Edward Thurston, Jr., John G. Wanton, Daniel Jenckes, Job Bennet, 
James Helme, and Darius Sessions. (28.) 

The meeting, which was largely attended by friends outside of the 
Corporation, was continued from Wednesday morning until a late hour 
Thursday night. Subscriptions and securities were finally offered from 
the town and county of Newport, amounting, according to the records, 
to ,£4,558 14s., lawful money, the greater part being expressly con- 
ditioned that the College be placed in said town. From the town and 
county of Providence were offered subscriptions and securities amount- 
ing to £4,399 13s. The final vote was as follows : — 

Whereas, The Corporation have fully heard committees from the counties of New- 
port, Kent, and Bristol, upon their application for a repeal of the A^ote of this Corpora- 
tion on the sixteenth day of November last, passed for locating the College edifice in 
the town of Providence, and maturely considered the several sums offered, and all the 
arguments produced by all the parties concerned, and thereupon the vote being put — 
Recede or not — it passed in the negative, twenty-one to fourteen. It is therefore 

Resolved, That the said edifice be built in the town of Providence, and there be 

CONTINUED FOREVER. 

We have thus given somewhat in detail an account of the final 
location of the College, compiled mainly from the original records. 
The following letter from Manning to his friend Hezekiah Smith, who 
was now collecting' funds for the Institution in South Carolina and 
Georgia, gives a very animated account of this memorable meeting : — 

Warren, Feb. 12, 1770. 

Reverend Sir : — Last week I received a letter from you of the 2d ult., in which 
you inform me of your success at Georgia, and your expectatiouF from the South 
16 



122 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. 

province. All your friends here rejoice that you succeed so well in getting the need- 
ful for the College. " Great luck to jon," as said Mr. Francis in his prayer. I thought 
it strange that I had no letter by Captain Durphee from you or Mr. Hart, as I wrote by 
him to you both. Last week I received a letter from Nelson, at Haverill, and he gives 
me a pleasing account of matters there. Had not his modesty forbid, I imagine he 
would have told me that the people were well suited with him. "We had another meet- 
ing of the Corporation last "Wednesday, when there were thirty-five members present. 
They were called to consider proposals from Newport in favor of setting the edifice in 
that town, as they had raised by subscription £4,000, lawful money, taking in their 
unconditional subscription. But Providence presented £4,280, lawful, and advantages 
superior to Newport in other respects. The dispute lasted from "Wednesday last, ten 
o'clock A. M., until the same hour on Thursday p. m. The matter was debated with 
great spirit, and before a crowded audience. The vote was put. Recede or Not? It 
went Not, by 21 against 14. You asked me in your last whether it had not raised a 
party in the government. I answer no ; but it has warmed up the old one something 
considerable. I was greatly censured by people in Newport for not joining to call a 
meeting about the first of January, and a great noise was made because I would not 
act contrary to an express vote of the Corporation at the meeting on the 10th of 
November. But at our last meeting the house gave me liberty to attempt a vindication 
of my conduct, and after hearing me through in the matter, they came to a vote, 
nemine contradicente, that they saw no reason why I should be blamed in this matter, 
and that they approved of my conduct. In the course of the debates there was some- 
times undue warmth, but, upon the whole, it subsided, and all parties seemed much 
more unanimous then I expected, in the after business. Many of the gentlemen of 
Newport said they had a fair hearing, and had lost it ; but their friendship to the Col- 
lege remained, and they would keep their places, pay their money, and forward to 
their utmost, the design. The College edifice is to be on the same plan as that of 
Princeton, built of brick, four stories high, and one hundred and fifty feet long. I wish 
I had a draught to send you, but it is not in my power. They determine to have the 
roof on next fall, and to cover it with slate, as they are now able. Now if we can get it 
endowed, we shall be compos voti. This I hope you will in part accomplish. I have 
thought of going to the Jerseys in the Spring. If I should I cannot go to Haverhill the 
first of May ; for I must consult my westward friends in a matter of so much conse- 
quence as moving or not moving with the College. If I go to the Jerseys, it will 
probably be about the middle of April. Religion is upon the revival in these parts. 
Messrs. Stillman and Spear were up from Boston, and Backus from Middleborough. 
It is said that the eight ministers at the Corporation meeting were all for Providence. 
This I will not assert, however. But I believe the Baptist Society in general are not 



1769-1770. ANB MANNING. 123 

dissatisfied at the determination. I could tell you a long tale if I had time, but can 
only tell you that we have twenty-three scholars, eighteen of whom are matriculated. 
Mrs. Manning joins in love to you, Mr. and Mrs. Hart, &c. 

Your unworthy brother, and servant in the Gospel, 

James Manning. 

The following account written by Mr. Moses Brown, on Friday, 
February 9th, the next day after the adjournment, deserves to be read 
in this connection : — 

Warren, Feb. 7, 1770. 
The Corporation met, swore in George Hazard, and chose Darius Sessions as one of 
the Trustees. The gentlemen from Newport kept off from laying before the Corjiora- 
tion their reasons for asking a remove until after candle-light, and after we insisted that 
they should lay these subscriptions on the table. They handed a bond from sundry 
persons for £3,100 lawful money, being £10 more than our former bond. We insisted 
then that as that did not amount to so much as ours, with the land, that they should 
give up their claim, agreeable to promise, but after some debate adjourned about 10 
o'clock in the evening to 9 o'clock in the morning. When met they presented two 
papers, but insisted on knowing the amount of our subscription, which we had before 
told them was to the amount of the bond, and the unconditional subscription of £800 
besides. At length Henry Ward took me out towards the door, and declared these were 
all they had, and that they had no orders to go any higher, and proposed if we would 
not lodge any further subscriptions, they would lay down their papersi, and proceed to 
trial accordingly. We agreed. William Ellery then lodged the papers before held, and 
would not deliver to anybody, being one bond for £150 lawful money, and one other for 
£300. When we came to foot our sums, we had about £226 more than they, ours being 
£4,175. Hereupon they delayed by many evasions proceeding to business, and insisted 
for adjournment to dinner; after which the meeting met, and after waiting three- 
quarters of an hour, Samuel Ward, Doct. Babcock, Henry Ward, and others, came in and 
presented a security for their unconditional subscription, which they said was £508, 14s. 
and a bond for £500 more. All this time no subscriptions were produced, they alleging 
that they had left them at home ; and none were finally produced. By this last bond 
they exceeded our subscriptions, land and all, about £385. Whereupon it was thought 
advisable to lodge the last subscription we had to make use of upon this occasion, 
amounting to £226, with the Treasurer, not caring to trust the vote, they being so much 
ahead, especially as they insisted that our unconditional subscription ought not to tell 
anything ; whereby they would be about £1,235 over us. This reduced it, so that reckon- 



124 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. 

ing the whole of their sum and the whole of ours, they were £158 more than we. We 

presented a calculation in the arguments, of the amount of the building if at Newport, 

more than if at Providence, amounting to £574 lawful money, which we insisted should 

be added to ours, leaving a balance in our favor of £415. The vote came on after long 

litigation and argument, both Kent and Warren putting in their claims. The vote was. 

Repeal or not. It passed in the negative by twenty-one to fourteen votes. So the 

merits of the Newport arguments made by Henry Ward, and others, replied to by self, 

Governor Hopkins, and others. 

Moses Brown. 
February 9, 1770. 

The following letter, published in the Newport Mercury, under date 
of Monday, Feb. 12, 1770, and written by one who attended the meet- 
ing, shows as Manning states, that the old party "was warmed up some- 
thing considerable." It is introduced as an illustration of the spirit of 
the times, and of the manifold difficulties which our pious fathers had 
to encounter in founding, locating, and endowing the College : — 

Mr. Southwick: 

Without favor or affection I expect you will insert the following, or say no more 
about the liberty of the press. Last Wednesday I attended the Corporation of the 
Providence College, for Rhode Island is out of the question, held at Warren, to consult 
and determine what town or county had raised the largest subscription, when it was 
evident to the greatest fool present, which was perhaps myself, that the town of New- 
port's subscription exceeded that of Providence, six or seven hundred pounds, lawful 
money, and, I believe on a just calculation, the difference would be more ; and yet, 
pursuing the arithmetic practised by a late session of Parliament in the affair of the 
Middlesex election, between Wilkes and Luttrell, that is, by the force of bribery and 
corruption, proving two to be more than four, the vote was carried for Providence. 
Astonishing! That four men of this place, some of whom had absolutely pretended to 
be friends of this town, and had subscribed a small sum for having the College placed 
here, should act such a low, base part, as to be duped by a set of men, who for twenty 
years past have, on every occasion, manifested the most inveterate malice against this 
town and island. The Rev. President has abused and sold, for a mess of pottage, the 
people of Warren, who have exerted themselves in a most extraordinary manner to 
serve him ; and yet, forsooth, he must have a vote of the Corporation to exculpate him ; 
but I observed a large number who held their hands very close to their bodies, and did 
not make the least motion to raise them in his favor. However, he is what he is, a wolf 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 125 

in sheep's clothing, and will, doubtless, instruct youth in the way they should walk — 
after him. I hope, Mr. Printer, you will have a true list of the voters on each side at 
the meeting of the Corporation, in season for your next ; as these things ought to be 
made public, that the people may not be hoodwinked ; the publication of which will be 
greatly to the honor of some gentlemen, and to the lasting disgrace of some others. 

I am yours, etc.. 

An Enemy to all Hypocrites, and those who betray 

THE Interests of this Town. 

Following the above is what the writer terms " a plain and incon- 
testable account of facts" pertaining to the final decision; in which the 
amount of subscriptions and securities offered by Providence is stated 
to have been <£4,399, 13s., and from Newport £4,558, 14s., leaving a bal- 
ance in favor of the latter of .£159, Is. This agrees with the records. 
Manning, on the contrary, states that Newport "raised by subscription, 
.£4,000 lawful money, taking in their unconditional subscription ; but 
Providence presented £4,280 lawful, and advantages superior to Newport 
in other respects." Mr. Moses Brown, it will be observed, gives a bal- 
ance in favor of Providence of £415, reckoning the cost of the building 
as being less at Providence than at Newport. The facts are all plainly 
stated. The difference in the amounts is evidently, as in the case of 
the "higher criticism," so called, of to-day, one of interpretation. 
There may, furthermore, have been a difference in the valuation of the 
land offered as a part of the Providence subscriptions. It would not be 
unfair, perhaps, to ascribe to William Ellery, who, according to the state- 
ment of Moses Brown, was present at the meeting in Warren, this caus- 
tic article in the Mercury. From beginning to end he showed himself 
a bitter and determined enemy of the College. We shall see more of 
his opposition before we reach the close of our narrative. 

Of the thirty-five members of the Corporation who were present at 
this meeting in Warren, eleven were from Providence, and fifteen from 
Newport. The four members from Newport who voted " Not," on the 
question of final location, whom this writer in the Newport Mercury 
designates as " hypocrites," who betrayed the interests of the town, con- 



126 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. 

signing them to "lasting disgrace," were, according to Manning,^ the 
three Baptist ministers, viz. : Messrs. Uphara, Maxson, and Thurston. 
The fourth member was Avithout doubt Col. Job Bennet, Treasurer 
of the College from 1767 until 1775. He was a wholesale merchant on 
Thames street, dealing in cloths, West India goods and lumber, and 
renting houses, of which he owned a number. He had been an Associate 
Justice of the Supreme Court, and was now an active and influential 
member of Maxson's church. Manning and Smith were very intimate 
with him, stopping beneath his hospitable roof whenever they visited 
Newport. In the account of subscriptions for the building up to March 
11, 1771, his name appears for £64, 4s. lawful money, or two hundred 
and twelve dollars. This is the largest sum paid by any subscriber out- 
side of Providence. 

It is interesting to know who were the members from Providence, 
and also who from other towns voted "Not " at the final decision. The 
Providence members were as follows : — Chancellor Hopkins, Doct. 
Jabez Bowen, Doct. Ephraim Bowen, Judge Jenckes, Nicholas Brown, 
Joseph Brown, Joseph Russell, Thomas Greene, Hon. Nicholas Cooke, 
Hon. Darius Sessions, and Elder Samuel Winsor. The other Baptist 
ministers were Stillman from Boston, Backus from Middleborough, 
Mason from Swansea, and President Manning. Nathan Spear, a prom- 
inent Baptist layman from Boston, and Sylvester Child, a member of 
Manning's church in Warren, also voted " Not." These, with the four 
from Newport, make up the "twenty-one " voters in favor of Providence.^ 

The Hon. Chancellor Hopkins, who presided over the Board of 
Trustees, thus states the case of the two rival claimants, presenting in 
a clear and concise manner the controversy from the beginning : — 

The zeal and spirit of the people here, more than at Newport, for promoting the 
College is certainly most evident : — First, by the unconditional subscription, which, in 

1 Letter to Smith. " It is said that the eight ministers (Baptists) at the Corporation were all for 
Providence." 

- The following members of the Corporation voted for Newport, viz. : Doct. Thomas Eyres, 
Henry Ward, Hon. Samuel Ward, Hon. Joslas Lyndon, Hon. Joseph Wanton, George Hazard, 
Peleg Barker, John Warren, John Tanner, Edward Thurston, Jr., John G. Wanton, Hon. Joshua 
Babcock, of Westerly, William Brown, of Swansea, and James Helme, of South Kingstown. 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 127 

Providence, was nearly double to that in Newport ; whereas, if their zeal for the Institu- 
tion had been equal to ours, the number of the people and their abilities compared, their 
subscriptions ought to have been much more than double to ours. And, as this was 
coolly transacted in both towns, before any kind of strife was begun or emulation was 
raised about the place where the College should be erected, it is the strongest proof 
imaginable that the ardor of the Providence people, while no by-ends biased, was infi- 
nitely greater than that of the gentlemen of Newport. 

Again, if we consider the conditional subscriptions of both towns, we shall evi- 
dently find the same superiority in the Providence people's zeal for the College, for 
this subscription was set on foot and principally filled in Providence, from the very 
laudable motive of promoting the Institution and putting it in a condition that the 
College edifice might be erected somewhere, and not with the least view of circumventing 
any other place, as some have too uncharitably represented. 

"We first with grief observed the very little progress of the unconditional subscrip- 
tions, after the Commencement, and that there was very little hope, within any reason- 
able time, that a sum in any degree equal to erect a building, which might be tolerably 
decent and useful, would be obtained. This being also observed by the late ingenious 
Mr. Campbell, induced him to promote a conditional subscription in King's County' and 
Kent, which, as soon as we had knowledge of, we also encouraged, in hopes that 
it might have answered the purpose arrived at. But when that had been fully tried, 
we found that the sum likely to be raised by it would be altogether inadequate to the 
design in hand. 

Things being in this sitviation, and after divers consultations had about it, we at 
length determined to open a conditional subscription in Providence, which filled beyond 
our warmest expectations, and seemed to promise that a College edifice might be soon 
erected. This subscription we offered to the Corporation at their meeting in November 
last, and they then approved of it. 

But some gentlemen of Newport perceiving a probability that the College might be 
erected at Providence, were moved by their unreasonable enmity to that town, to do 
that which the good of the Institution itself could never have induced them to do. They 
accordingly desired that time might be allowed to the people of the town and county 
of Newport, to see if they could not raise a larger sum for the College than any that 
was then offered ; and accordingly the time they asked was allowed, so long as not to 
delay carrying on the building longer than the 1st of January past. Yet, although they 
have taken near double the time allowed them, and the generous and public-spirited 
Mr. Abraham Redwood hath given more than a fifth i>art of the whole sum, yet their 



1 Washington County was incorporated as King's County, June 16, 1729. The name was changed 
to AYashington County, Oct. 29, 1781. 



128 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. 

whole subscription doth not exceed ours, from which it is quite plain that their zeal for 
the College, even when whetted by their aversion to Providence, has fallen greatly short 
of ours in the conditional subscriptions also. 

From all which reasons, with some others too invidious to mention, but which will 
naturally occur to all who are acquainted with the proceedings in this matter, it must 
be very evident the College edifice will be much sooner built and the Institution much 
more encouraged and supported, if it be left in the care of the people at Providence, 
who have from the beginning shown so much zeal and attention to it, than if it should 
be removed and put under the care of those people of Newport who have shown so 
little regard for it in any other light than in making a matter of contention about it. 

The Chancellor alludes to the "unreasonable enmity" of the people 
of Newport to Providence. It is a matter of history that there had 
long existed an unpleasant state of feeling between the two towns ; 
and it is evident that this feeling entered into the contest respecting 
the final location of the College. The famous Ward and Hopkins con- 
troversy commenced in 1755, and continued for thirteen years with all 
the bitterness of the most partisan strife, served, doubtless, to stimu- 
late the zeal and passions of the parties contending for the College. 
Governor Ward, who was an active member of the Corporation, repre- 
sented the people in the southern counties of the State, while the voters 
in the northern counties supported his more successful rival. The 
reasons " too obvious to mention " which determined the final vote, can 
readily be inferred by the readers of our narrative. The decided pref- 
erence of the President for Providence, as indicated in his anonymous 
letter to Nicholas Brown, doubtless had great influence with his friends, 
especially with those of his own religious denomination. 

And now comes another phase of this celebrated contest which the 
writer would gladly omit ; but liistorical accuracy and a desire to state 
all the facts require the details. In circumstances like these the sup- 
l^ressio veri, as President Sears happily remarks in his Centennial Dis- 
course, would be as culpable in the historian as the suggestio falsi. The 
decision, says Edwards, to locate the College at Providence, " touched 
the jealousy and piqued the pride of the Islanders, so as to make them 
enemies to the Institution itself." The opponents at once moved for 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 129 

another college to be located at Newport. In a letter to Manning, 
Edwards adds: — When the College "had a locality and the beginning 
of existence at Providence, did they not, with some misled Baptists, 
attempt to get another college to destro}^ yours?" The leader in 
this movement appears to have been William EUery. This we learn 
from Dr. Stiles. In his diary, under date of Feb. 23, 1770, we read : — 
"Mr. Ellery came to discourse about the charter of another college, 
on the plan of equal liberty to Congregationalists, Baptists, Episco- 
palians, Quakers." And April 1, 1770, he adds: — "There is now 
pending before the General Assembly of Rhode Island, a petition for 
a charter for a college here in Newport, since the first Rhode Island 
College is fixed at Providence. College enthusiasm ! "^ 

Judge Staples, in his "Annals of Providence," thus states the 
case : — " One of the results of the location of this Institution at 
Providence, was an application to the General Assembly, by another 
set of petitioners, for another college. At the February session, 1770, 
a charter for an academy and college, to be located at Newport, passed 
the Lower House of the Assembly by twenty majority. The applica- 
tion was not favorably received in the Upper House, where it was either 
rejected or indefinitely postponed.' ' It was neither rejected nor indefi- 
nitely postponed, but referred to the next session, through the influence, 
perhaps, of Judge Jenckes and Moses Brown, two of the Representatives 
to the General Assembly from Providence. A writer in the Newport 
Mercury for March 12, 1770, who signs himself CD., after speaking 
of the want of good schools, which the inhabitants of the town had long 
felt, and of their efforts to have the Baptist College here, frustrated 
"solely by the unwearied pains taken to represent it as a party scheme," 
proceeds to give a concise account of the affair as follows : — 

A plan was then formed for founding a good school, the principal design of which 
was to educate the youth in the most necessary branches of learning, esjiecially in the 
English language, in writing, in arithmetic, and in such sciences as are most useful in 



1 Quoted by President Sears, in his Centennial Discourse, page 100. Dr. Sears was permitted to 
consult the Stiles Papers, from which he has made several quotations. 

17 



130 BROWN rmVEESITY Chap. III. 

a maritime town. But as there are generally about forty scholars here, who study the 
learned languages, several of whom (if it could be done with cheapness and con- 
venience) would probably be educated in the higher branches of learning, it was 
thought best to enlarge the plan, and form a seminary to consist of a college and a 
school together ; the more especially as the conferring such literary honors upon the 
pupils as they should merit, would be an inducement to gentlemen without the Colony 
to bring up their children upon this healthy and delightful spot. 

A charter was accordingly drawn and agreed upon ; by which the government of this 
seminary is equally divided among the four leading denominations of Christians in the 
Colony ; and every possible precaution taken to preserve that equality forever. This 
charter was presented to the General Assembly at the last session and granted by the 
Lower House ; but was by the Upper House referred to the next session. 

As some of the gentlemen who were managers for the town, have been unjustly 
accused of being actuated by party views, in pressing the Upper House to a concur- 
rence with the Lower House, instead of consenting that the petition should be referred ; 
and as this present attempt to establish a seminary of learning here, pregnant with so 
many advantages to the town and Colony, must inevitably meet with the same fate as 
the former, if it be thought that some of the principal undertakers in it have nothing 
in view but the interest of a party, it is necessary to give an account, and explain the 
true reasons of their conduct. 

After every argument that could be suggested, was made use of to induce the Upper 
House to a concurrence with the Lower House, it was proposed by some of the mem- 
bers to refer the petition to the next session. Upon this the managers for the town 
very justly observed, that the referring the petition was absolutely, to all intents and 
purposes, the same as a non-concurrence. For it is the known and established rule and 
practice of the Parliament of Great Britain, and of every Assembly upon this continent, 
that all business begun by one branch of the Legislature, and not concurred with by 
the other branch or branches at the same session, dies of itself. And, if ever revived, 
must originate anew, and receive the concurrence and assent of all the branches, at the 
same session ; otherwise it cannot pass into a law. The reasons why this rule should 
never be departed from, are so clear, that they need not be mentioned. Exceptions, it 
is true, there have been in this Colony, owing to the loose and hasty manner in which 
business has sometimes been done. But even here, this rule hath been generally 
adhered to; the contrary practice having always been esteemed irregular. And in 
cases of importance, when votes have been by one House referred to the next session, 
they have, in consequence of an application of the other House, upon this rule been acted 
upon and finished the same session. It was further observed to the Upper House, that 
a reference would prove, at least, as fatal as an absolute non-concurrence. For, if the 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 131 

vote of the Lower House, passed at February session, should be concurred with by an 
Upper House to be chosen in May following, when the Lower House, who originated 
and passed the vote, would be dissolved, and there would be a perfect new Assembly, 
no one would imagine that such a concurrence would make a regular and legal act. 
And therefore it could not be supposed, that any gentlemen in their senses, if they 
weighed the matter, would expend large sums of money upon so uncertain and preca- 
rious a foundation, as a charter so obtained. 

The generous disposition that prevails for establishing a seminary of learning here, 
which will prove beneficial not only to the present, but to all future generations, must 
give a sensible pleasure to every friend to the town and the Colony. 

There is the highest reason to expect that the General Assembly, at their next ses- 
sion, will grant the Charter. To give weight to our application, a handsome subscrip- 
tion will be necessary, and accordingly one will be opened the day after proxing for 
General Officers. It is put off until that time, to prevent any appearance or suggestion 
of party motives in prosecuting so noble an undertaking. 

Why the General Assembly did not grant the Charter, as the writer 
of the article says there was " the highest reason to expect," at its next 
session, which was held in Newport on the first Wednesday in May suc- 
ceeding, may be best explained by the following action of the Corpora- 
tion : — 

At a special meeting held in Warren,^ on the 25th of April, 1770, it 
was, as appears from the records, 

Resolved, That this Corporation make application to the General Assembly and pray 
that a petition now before the Assembly for granting a charter for another college may 
be rejected. 



1 The following citation for this meeting appeared in the Providence Gazette for April 7, 1770 : — 

" This is to notify the members of the Corporation of the College in the Colony to meet together 
at Warren, on Wednesday, tbe 25th of this instant, April, to take into consideration sundry matters 
of importance, very interesting to the Institution, which wiU be laid before them. 

James Manning, President. 
Edward Upham, \ 
Thomas Eyres, > Fellows. 
JABEZ BOWEN, Jr., ) 



132 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. 

Voted, That the Chancellor, the President, the Hon. Darius Sessions, the Kev. Samuel 
Stillman, Col. Job Bennet, and the Secretary, be a committee to draw a memorial to the 
General Assembly pursuant to the preceding resolution. 

The record continues : — 

The committee appointed to prepare the remonstrance to the General Assembly pre- 
sented a draft, which being twice read, and approved, the Secretary is directed to make 
■a fair copy, sign it, and deliver it to the committee which will be appointed to present it 
to the General Assembly. 

Voted, That the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Hon. Samuel Ward, Hon. Darius Sessions, 
Col. Job Bennet, Moses Brown, Judge Daniel Jenckes, John Tillinghast, Oliver Arnold, 
and James Mitchel Varnum, be, and they, or the major part of them are appointed a 
committee to present to the General Assembly and enforce the said remonstrance. 

This memorial or remonstrance, which we are happy to be able to 
present to our readers, is preserved on file among the College papers. 
On the back of it, in the handwriting of President Manning, is the 
following : — " Copy of a Remonstrance of ye Cop" to ye G. Assembly 
against a new college. 1770." The handwriting within is probably 
that of Stephen Hopkins, chairman of the committee. It is an 
exceedingly valuable official document, inasmuch as it settles points 
in regard to the origin of the College which have sometimes been dis- 
puted, giving the reasons why it was founded, stating clearly, in con- 
nection with previous narratives or accounts, by whom it was founded, 
when it was founded, and where the plan originated. Two of the 
committee, it will be observed, Doct. Eyres and Colonel Bennet, 
belonged in Newport. Governor Sessions was a Congregationalist 
from Providence. Chancellor Hopkins was a Quaker. President 
Manning, the second one named on the committee, was familiar, of 
course, with all the facts in the case. Chancellor Hopkins, it may be 
added, the chairman of the committee to prepare the remonstrance, 
and also chairman of the committee to present it to the General Assem- 
bly and enforce it, was appointed one of the Representatives from 
Providence to the following May and October sessions. The other 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 133 

three Representatives were Judge Daniel Jenckes, Moses Brown, and 
Benjamin Man : — 

To the Honorable the General Assembly of the Colony of Rhode Island, to sit at 
Newport on the first Wednesday in May, 1770: — 

The Remonstrance of the Trustees and Fellows of the Corporation of the College in 
said Colony humbly sheweth : — 

That, the several denominations of Baptists residing in most of the British North- 
ern Colonies are, taken collectively, a considerable body of Christians ; and these 
people, having of late years taken into consideration, that there are no public semina- 
ries for the education of youth, where those of that persuasion can enjoy equal freedom 
and advantages with others, were thereby induced to form a resoluton to erect a col- 
lege, and institute a seminary for the education of youth somewhere in North America, 
to be effected chiefly, if not altogether, by the application, and at the cost and expense 
of the Baptist churches. 

That, having iiroceeded thus far, they began to enquire after the most convenient 
place for executing their design ; and, on deliberation, finding that the Colony of Rhode 
Island was first settled chiefly by Baptists, that a very considerable part of its inhab- 
itants are still of that persuasion, and that a universal toleration of liberty of con- 
science hath from the beginning taken place in it, they had great hope it would prove 
a proper place for founding a College, and in which the infant Institution might be 
most encouraged; and accordingly applied to the General Assembly of said Colony for 
a charter of incorporation, which they thankfully acknowledge was freely granted 
them. 

That, in forming this charter care was taken, that notwithstanding the burden of 
expense was to fall chiefly on the Baptists; yet, no other Christian society should be 
excluded from the benefits of it ; and accordingly, a sufticient number from each of the 
principal of them were taken in to be Trustees and Fellows in the Corporation as 
might be able to take care of, and guard their interest in it, in all time to come. And 
the youth of every denomination of Christians are fully entitled to, and actually enjoy, 
equal advantages in every respect, as the Baptists themselves, without being burdened 
with any religious test or constraint whatsoever. 

That, since granting the charter aforesaid, several considerable men among the 
Baptists have taken great pains, as well in Europe as America, to solicit benefactions 
for endowing said College, and have collected considerable sums for that purpose ; 
and many others of the same Society have been very large contributors toward the 
expense of erecting the College edifice. 

All this being known and understood, we confess our surprise at the thoughts of 



134 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Ohap. III. 

those who are pleased to look upon this as a very contracted plan ; and this surprise 
hecomes a real concern on being informed, that a petition hath been set on foot, and 
subscribed by a great number of persons, praying the General Assembly to grant 
another charter for instituting a college within the said Colony, different and separate 
from that already granted and established, and pretended to be on a more liberal and 
Catholic plan ; and our concern is increased to a real anxiety on perceiving the 
General Assembly entertained the said petition Avith somewhat of approbation. 

Permit us therefore to remonstrate, that, as we had firm reliance on the lasting faith 
and credit of the Legislative Body of the Colony of Rhode Island, that faith and credit 
hath by us as a Corporation been asserted and pledged, in most parts of England and 
Ireland, and in many partg of America ; and, on that foundation large sums of money 
have been given, and more subscribed, toward this Institution. That, should a charter 
be granted for erecting another Corporation of the same kind in this Colony, all those 
who have been benefactors to this will think themselves deluded and deceived ; not- 
withstanding we have acted under the faith of the Government ; and all those that 
hereafter might become benefactors will be discouraged and hindered. That, the 
granting of our charter, being for erecting and endowing a College in the Colony of 
Rhode Island, must, rational and justly, be considered as exclusive of any other 
college being erected within it. 

Therefore, your remonstrants humbly pray that you would be pleased to counte- 
nance and encourage the present Institution and College in this Colony, and not per- 
mit, or suffer, any other to be set and established to rival and ruin it. 

And your remonstrants will ever pray. 

This remonstrance, presented and " enforced " by such men as 
Stephen Hopkins, Daniel Jenckes, and Moses Brown, proved effectual. 
The charter for another college was not granted. The manuscript of 
the proposed charter, in the handwriting of Dr. Stiles, was for a long 
time in the possession of the late Dr. David King, of Newport, a grad- 
uate of the University, and for thirty years the honored President of 
the Newport Historical Society. He died in 1882, leaving behind a 
large and costly collection of books on English and American history. 
Into whose hands the manuscript has since fallen, we are not informed. 
The writer has an impression of the college seal, which was made in 
anticipation of the granting of the charter. It is in size like a silver 
dollar. In the centre is the English crown, surmounted by the cross, 
with several devices underneath. Around the centre are the Latin 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 135 

words: — "Sig. Col. Gust. Rhod. Ins. et Prov. in Nov. Ang." The 
seal was for many years in the possession of the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, for- 
merly Rector of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, from whom it came into 
the hands of his son, Charles H. Wyatt, Esq., Attorney-at-law." ^ 

The final decision to locate the College at Providence, although 
a wise one, as the result has proved, seems unaccountable aside from 
the considerations already adduced, in view of the relative importance 
of the rival towns. Providence was comparatively a small town, 
while Newport, with its eleven thousand inhabitants, was the second 
city in New England, and the centre of opulence, refinement, and 
learning. "She had," says the historian, ^ "seventeen manufactories 
of sperm oil and candles, five rope-walks, three sugar refineries, one 
brewery, and twenty-two distilleries of rum, an article which in those 
days was deemed essential to the health of the sailor and the soldier, 
and all hard working men. Her foreign commerce found employment 
for nearly two hundred ships, and her domestic trade for between three 
and four hundred coasting craft. A regular line of packets kept open 
her communications with London for passengers and mails. Her soci- 
ety had never lost the intellectual impulse given it by Berkeley." Doct. 
Waterhouse, in a newspaper article published in 1824, which has been 
frequently quoted, describes "the Island of Rhode Island, from its salu- 
brity and surpassing beauty before the Revolutionary War so sadly 
defaced it," as " the chosen resort of the rich and philosophic from 



1 The following letter from Mr. Wyatt may be of interest in this connection : — 

Baltimore, Dec. 18, 1888. 
Mr. R. a. Guild, Librarian Brown University, Providence, It. I. 

My Dear Sir: — Enclosed I send you an impression taken from an old seal now in my posses- 
sion, which I am led to think may be an old seal of Brown University, and should be glad to know 
from you if this is a fact. From boyhood I remember this seal as being in or upon the desk of my 
father, the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, for many years rector of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, and of its being 
used as a paper weight. Of its history I know nothing, and cannot imagine how it came into his 
possession. If it should prove to be the seal of the University, and there is any interest attaching 
to it, I should be glad to send it to them. If it is not, you may be able to tell me where it orig- 
inated. 

Yours respectfully, 

Charles Handfield Wyatt. 
s Greene's " Short History of Rhode Island," page 203. 



136 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. III. 

nearly all parts of the civilized world." Among the arguments advanced 
by the Newport contestants in favor of the College, was the advantage 
to be derived by the pi'ofessors and students from the Redwood Library, 
which, at this early period, was the second library in the country, con- 
taining choice books in the arts and sciences, and especially rich in classi- 
cal and theological lore. Dr. Stiles was for many years the librarian, 
and from its precious stores he gathered much of the knowledge for 
which he was so justly renowned. Providence, on the other hand, had 
no such literary advantages. But her situation was more convenient, 
and in case of a rupture with the British Government, she was much 
less exposed to an invasion or attack. Her inhabitants, too, were more 
patriotic than the inhabitants of Newport.^ Moreover, the great apostle 
of civil and religious freedom had found a shelter from oppression in 
Providence ; here he founded a colony and a church ; and here his lib- 
eral Baptist sentiments had always prevailed. And so the well known 
preferences of the President, and the "Baptist Society" at large, the 
great influence of Stephen Hopkins, and the resolute and adventurous 
spirit of the Browns and the Jenckes carried the day. The College was 
removed to Providence, and, in May, 1770, the corner stone of the 
building now known as "University Hall," was laid. 

The committee appointed, in the language of the records, "to fix a 
suitable place for building the edifice," consisted of John Brown, John 
Jenckes, Joseph Russell, Job Bennet, and John Warren, any three of 
them to constitute a quorum. The first three resided in Providence ; 
the last two in Newport. The lot finally selected by this committee 
comprised originally about eight acres, and included the "home-lot" of 
Chad Brown, the great ancestor of the Brown family in Providence, who 
was an elder in the church, and according to tradition, the " first Bap- 
tist elder in Rhode Island." Mr. Moses Brown, in an interesting let- 



1 " There was still another class of readers whom Stephen Hopkins had in mind, in sending out 
to the public these carefully considered arguments. (The Rights of Colonies Examined, etc.) It 
was that of the Loyalists, whose numbers were at this time (1765) really formidable. They were 
specially numerous in Newport and the Narragansett County." See Foster's " Stephen Hopkins a 
Rhode Island Statesman," Vol. 2, page 59. 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 137 

ter to President Wayland, under date of May 25, 1833, thus writes 
concerning this lot : — ^ 

When the fixing of the College edifice here was firmly settled, rather than at 
Warren, Newport, or East Greenwich, which all claimed the preference, our house, then 
composed of four brothers, viz. : Nicholas, Joseph, John, and Moses Brown, concluded 
to take charge of building the necessary buildings, purchasing land for the same, etc. 
At that time gardens and buildings were to be purchased and removed, besides the 
site for the College ; for we then knew the lot from Main street to the neck road 
on the east was the original home-lot of our ancestor, Chad Brown, of Avhom we had 
the tradition that he was the first Baptist Elder in Providence. Doct. Edwards, 
when collecting materials for the history of the Baptists here, and examining all the 
elderly people he could find here, on which business I accompanied him, was informed 
that Chad Brown was the first elder, although Koger Williams, being a preacher before 
he came here, was a preacher and continued it here for some time. Eichard Scott says 
he was with him in the Baptist way three or four months, when Roger left them and 
went in a way of seeking. Roger's testimony respecting Chad Brown I have under his 
own hand, in a plea of his before the Court of the four New England Colonies, saying, 
" Chad Brown a wise and godly soul (now with God), with myself brought the first 
twelve and the after comers to a oneness by arbitration." Chad and his wife were 
buried in their own lot near the northwest corner of the now town house, and had a 
large square monument of granite over them, till by the request of the town to widen 
that street, their bones were taken up and interred in the North Burying Ground, and 
head and foot stones were erected over them by the town. I saw their remains when 
taken up. His son, John Brown (his eldest), was also a preacher, but not an elder, and 
was the father of James Brown, long a Baptist elder until his death. Thou may see 
by all this, our family had an interest in promoting the Institution now called Brown 
University, besides the purchase of the name by my worthy nephew, Nicholas. 

The following extract from the Record of Deeds, book 19, page 
108, presents a clear and accurate account of the southern half of the 
original college premises : — 

To all people to whom these presents shall come : We, John Brown and Moses 
Brown, both of Providence, in the County of Providence and Colony of Rhode Island 
and Providence Plantations, merchants, send greeting: — Know ye, that we, the said 
John and Moses Brown, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and thirty 



' Documentary History of Brown University, page 207. 
18 



138 BROWN UNIYEESITY Chap. HI. 

dollars, to us in hand already paid by the Trustees and Fellows of the College or Univer- 
sity in the English Colony of Ehode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England 
in America, the receipt whereof, by a discount out of the sums we have severally sub- 
scribed to the College, we do hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained, sold, 
aliened, enfeoffed, conveyed, and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, sell, 
alien, convey, and confirm unto said Trustees and Fellows, and to their successors and 
assigns forever, one certain piece or parcel of land lying in the town of Providence, 
bounded . . . which said piece of land contains about four acres, and became the 
property of us, said Moses and John Brown, by a deed of bargain and sale from Samuel 
Fenner, of Cranston, who received it as one of the legatees of Daniel Abbott, Esq., late of 
said Providence, deceased, who received the northerly third part thereof from his father, 
Daniel Abbott, by descent, who purchased the same of James Brown, who received it of 
his brother John Brown, the present grantor's great-grandfather, who received it by 
descent from his father Chad Brown, who was one of the original proprietors after the 
native Indians of whom it was purchased, and is the middle part of that which was his 
house-lot or home-share of land so called ; the other two-thirds being the middle part of 
the original house-lot or home-share of George Rickard, since called John Warner's, 
which part was conveyed by the "said Rickard to the said Chad Brown, from whom it 
descended to his aforesaid son John, who conveyed it to his brother, Jeremiah Brown, 
who conveyed the same to the aforesaid Daniel Abbott the elder, from whom it 
descended to Daniel Abbott the younger, and became Samuel Fenner's as aforesaid: the 
whole of this piece of land making the southern half of the lot and highway leading to 
it whereon the College edifice is now erecting. 

The northern half of the original College premises, consisting of 
about four acres of land, was purchased by the Corporation, as per deed 
recorded in the aforesaid book, page 106, of Oliver Bowen, of Provi- 
dence, one of the legatees of the aforesaid Daniel Abbott, Esq., for the 
sum of four hundred dollars. Mr. Abbott, says the record, " took it by 
descent from his father Daniel Abbott, who received two-thirds part of 
it, being on the north side, from Robert Williams, by deed of gift, who 
purchased it by deed of bargain and sale of Robert Morrice, who pur- 
chased of Daniel Abbott the first, who was an original proprietor after 
the native Indians. The other third part the second named Daniel 
Abbott purchased by deed of bargain and sale from his brother John 
Brown, who took it by descent from his father Chad Brown." It will 
thus be seen that Chad Brown originally owned, or came into the posses- 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 139 

sion of all the land which constituted the original college premises, with 
the exception of a small portion which at first belonged to Daniel 
Abbott. 

The following appeared in the Providence Gazette for March 31, 
1770 : — 

Monday last (March 26th) the gentlemen of the committee for determining on a place 
to erect the College edifice within this Colony, met here, when after viewing several 
spots proposed, unanimously agreed upon the lot lately belonging to Daniel Abbott, 
Esq., deceased ; and accordingly on Tuesday (March 27th) a number of workmen began 
to break the ground, in order to lay the foundation for that seminary of learning. 

The ' ' committee to carry on the building of the College edifice " con- 
sisted of Stephen Hopkins, John Brown, John Jenckes, John Warren, 
and Sylvester Child, any three of them to be a quorum. The first three 
resided in Providence ; Warren belonged in Newport, and Child in 
Warren. This committee prosecuted its work with remarkable energy 
and zeal. In the Providence Gazette for Feb. 10, 1770, only two days 
after the adjournment of the Corporation, appears the following : — 

The Corporation of the College established by charter in this Colony, met the 7th 
instant at Warren, in order to consider the claims of the several parts of the Colony 
concerning the location of said College. All parties being fully heard, and their sub- 
scriptions, bonds, and deeds lodged, it was j^ut to vote, whether to recede from their 
former vote of the 16th of November last, or not. Which passed in the negative, twenty- 
one to fourteen; and therefore said College edifice was voted to be built in Providence, 
according to the draft then exhibited, and there to remain forever. Therefore all 
persons in the country, who have been so public spirited as to become subscribers to this 
valuable Institution, are desired to call on us, who are a committee for the building of 
said College, and take memorandums in writing to procure timber, plank, boards, 
joists, etc., etc., as we may agree; as said building will begin as soon as may be in the 

spring. 

Stephen Hopkins, ^ 

John Brown, > Committee. 

John Jenckes, ' 

At the meeting of the Corporation held Sept. 7, 1769, the Chancel- 
lor, the President, and Mr. Joseph Brown were appointed a " committee 
to prepare a complete model of the building." Naturally the commit- 



140 BROWN" UNIYEESITY Chap. III. 

tee took for its model, Nassau Hall, in Princeton, where President 
Manning had been educated. This was regarded as the finest building 
of the kind in the country, as it was, in point of fact, the largest. Its 
dimensions were fifty-four by one hundred and seventy-six feet ; it had 
a projection of four feet in front and twelve feet in the rear : it had 
three stories and a basement ; and the middle was surmounted by a 
cupola. Ground was broken for its erection July 29, 1754, and the 
roof was raised in 1755. It was named Nassau Hall in honor of King 
William the Third, a branch of the illustrious House of Nassau. 

After the final vote on the location of the College, the "draft was 
exhibited," whereupon it was " voted, that the College edifice be built 
according to the following plan, viz. : — That the house be one hundred 
and fifty feet long, forty-six feet wide, with a projection of ten feet on 
each side (10 by 30) ; and that it be four stories high." 

Meanwhile the President was prayerfully considering the sundering 
of his connection with the church which he had been instrumental in 
founding ; an event in which his tenderest and best feelings were 
involved. This was his first pastorate. For six years he had faithfully 
proclaimed to the people the glorious truths of the Gospel, and broken 
to them the bread of life. Many, through his agency were becoming 
wiser and better for time and for eternity, and how could he find it in 
his heart to leave them ? They were attached to his ministry, had con- 
tributed liberally towards his support, and earnestly desired his continu- 
ance with them. On the other hand, the College which he had served 
so faithfully was still in its infancy, with an uncertain future. For 
four years it had been without funds, and he had been compelled to rely 
upon his Latin school and the Church for the support of himself and 
family. It is true the Corporation had voted him, at the recent Com- 
mencement, the sum of X50, lawful money, to be paid him " out of the 
interest money supposed to be due " from the subscriptions obtained in 
England. Again the times were perilous, and should a war with the 
mother country ensue, what would be the fate of an institution of 
learning, concerning the location of which there had been such conten- 
tion and strife ? 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 141 

One of the final acts of the meeting which decided the location of 
the College, was to appoint all the Baptist ministers present, namely, 
Messrs. Upham, Backus, Stillman, Thurston, Maxson, Mason, and 
Winsor, " a committee to wait upon Mr. President Manning, and 
inform him of the hearty approbation we have of his conduct, care, 
and government of the College, and request him still to sustain the 
office he hath discharged with so much honor, and to go with the Col- 
lege to Providence when it shall be removed. And that they treat 
with the Congregation of which the President is Pastor, and inform 
them of this request, and endeavor to procure their consent to his 
removal ; and that report be made to the next Corporation meeting." 
"This cautious delicacy," remarks Professor Goddard, "with which 
the Corporation interfered with President Manning's existing rela- 
tions," presents a somewhat grateful contrast to the unceremonious 
and otherwise questionable modes of procedure, which, under similar 
circumstances, are now sometimes adopted. In his letter to Smith, 
which we have given in connection with this meeting. Manning 
writes : — "I must consult my Western friends in a matter of so much 
consequence as moving or not moving with the College." One of his 
Western friends to whom he would naturally first write was the Rev. 
Morgan Edwards. Mr. Edwards's reply is given in part by Judge 
Howland : — ^ 

I cannot help being angry with you when you talk of another President. Have you 
endured so mitch hardship in vain? "We have no man that will do so well as you. 
Talk no more, think no more of quitting the presidency, unless you have a mind to join 
issue with those projectors and talkers who mean no more than to hinder anything from 
being done. If you go to Providence, the Warren people may have a supply; if they 
were willing to part with you, it is likely the College would have no reason to covet 
you. 

At the special meeting of the Corporation held in Warren, April 
25, 1770, it was voted. 



1 Biographical sketch of the Rev. James Manning. See the Rhode Island Literary Repository 
for January, 1815. 



142 BROWN UNIYERSITY Chap. III. 

That the President of the College be allowed a salary of one hundred pounds, lawful 
money, out of the Corporation treasury, and that the time of payment be computed 
from the last Commencement; that the Institution be removed to Providence, and that 
the students at their return, after this vacation, do assemble in that town with their 
proper officers ; that Joseph Russell, David Harris, Esq., and Mr. Daniel Tillinghast, 
they, or the major part of them, be a committee to hire a suitable habitation for the 
President in Providence, till one can be built for him, and that it be at the charge of the 
Corporation. 

Neither Harris nor Tillinghast were members of the Corporation. 
The President had now made up his mind to go with the College, and 
had probably so expressed himself previous to the foregoing votes. 
He at once handed his resignation to the church, ' ' to the wonderment 
of his people, he being greatly admired and renowned." Tliis is the 
language of the records. Truth compels us to state that the good 
pastor's resignation was not well received by his people, that the 
church positively refused to give its assent to his leaving, and, 
according to the records, seriously contemplated putting him under 
discipline. We copy from the records the following : — 

February 4, 1770. This evening the church met and had a conference with Mr. James 
Manning, as they had once before within three months, to know whether he was deter- 
mined to leave the church and follow the College to Providence ; and he satisfied the 
church that he would not. But it was requested of him that, if he should alter his 
mind, he would give the church timely notice, and he promised he would give them 
timely notice. But, April 25th the Corporation met, and the next morning he gave his 
answer to serve as President of the College at Providence, and removed the Ith of May, 
without calling the church together to acquaint or advise with them, which doing of 
his is contrary to his promise with the church. 

May 31. The church met as usual. Treating about Mr. Manning leaving the 
church, it was agreed that Bro. Ebenezer Cole should write to Mr. Manning to come 
to our church meeting the last Thursday of June next, to give his reasons why he left 
the church. 

June 28. The church met as usual; Mr. James Manning came, but gave the church 
no satisfactory reason why he left the church destitute of a pastor or elder. 

In this connection we may give an extract from the diary of Dr. 



1769-1770. AND MANNING. 143 

Stiles, as quoted by President Sears. Under date of May 5, 1770, he 
thus writes : — 

The Baptist College was last week, or week before, removed to Providence, and the 
Browns and Jenckes intend to turn off Elder Windsor and put in President Manning 
for their minister. Upon the Corporation insisting on an answer from Manning 
respecting his removal, he applied to his church and congregation at Warren for dis- 
mission from his pastoral relation to them. This they utterly refused. He, however, 
the same day answered the Corporation that he would go, and has violently rent him- 
self from his church. 

On Friday, May 4, 1770, as the church records of Warren state, 
President Manning, with Professor Howell, and the students, left 
Warren, and commenced the College in Providence. "On Dr. Man- 
ning's taking up his abode here," says Howland,^ "he lived in the old 
house of Benjamin Bowen, which stood on the lot at the foot of Bo wen 
Street, on which Mr. S. K. Richmond's brick house now stands. Mr. 
Howell was unmarried and boarded. The students boarded in private 
families, at one dollar and a quarter per week. There they studied, 
and at certain hours met in one of the chambers of the old brick 
school-house, with the officers, for recitation." This house, which is 
on Meeting Street, is still standing, and was long known as the house 
for the Meeting Street colored school. It is at present used for a ward 
room. 

Mr. Howland's recollections are so interesting that we cannot refrain 
from giving another quotation : — 

In May, 1770, one month after my arrival, the College which had been located in 
Warren, was removed to Providence. . . . There were only four in the Senior class. 
The Commencements for the first five years were held in Mr. Snow's meeting-house, 
that being then the largest in the town. Governor Wanton always attended from 
Newport, till Governor Cooke succeeded him. He headed the procession with the 
President. The Governor's wig, which had been made in England, was of the size and 
pattern of that of the Speaker of the House of Commons, and so large that the shallow 
crowned hat could not be placed on his head without disturbing the curls. He there- 



iLlfe and Recollections of John Howland. By Edwin M. Stone. 12mo. Providence, 1857, 
page 159. 



144 BKOWN UNIVERSITY. Chap. III. 

fore placed it under Ms left arm, and held his umhrella in his right hand. This was 
the first umhrella ever seen carried by a gentleman in Providence, though they had 
been some time in use by ladies on a sunny day. Governor Wanton was the most 
dignified and respectable looking man we had ever seen. The white wig of President 
Manning was of the largest dimensions usually worn in this country. 

We close this chapter with another quotation from the chaste and 
appropriate memoir of Professor Goddard: — ^ 

Dr. Manning now entered upon a theatre of enlarged and responsible action. The 
College was yet in its infancy, and demanded his paternal supervision ; its funds were 
scanty, and needed to be recruited ; its actual system of discipline and instruction was 
imperfect, and required not only to be improved, but to be adapted to the new circum- 
stances under which it was hereafter to be administered. To these important objects he 
devoted himself, with patience and energy, and with that spirit of self-denial which is 
essential to the success of great enterprises, and which great enterprises are apt to 
inspire. In the beneficent work of establishing, within the little Colony of Rhode 
Island, " a public seminary for the education of youth in the vernacular and learned 
languages, and in the liberal arts and sciences," he was aided by the efficient co-opera- 
tion of the Rev. Messrs. Edwards, Smith, Stillman, Backus, Gano, and others of his 
clerical brethren. It is, however, perhaps not too much to say, that, but for the enlight- 
ened zeal and substantial liberality of a few Baptist laymen, citizens of Providence, the 
College would have been slow in winning its way to general repute. These public- 
spirited men, though strangers themselves to the discipline of schools of learning, knew 
how to prize the benefits of high intellectual culture. Though self-educated, they were 
without a particle of hostility to the distinctions of learning, or of that affected con- 
tempt for learned men with which the uncultivated sometimes seek to console their 
deficiencies. Moved by a generous ardor, they determined that their children and the 
children of their contemporaries should enjoy, to the remotest generations, opportuni- 
ties for intellectual improvement denied to themselves. "Well have they been repaid 
for their efforts in this good cause. Their activity and enterprise in the accumulation 
of wealth are now well-nigh forgotten ; but still fresh is the memory of all their deeds in 
behalf of science and letters and religion. 



1 Memoir of the Rev. James Manning, D. D., with biographical notices of some of his pupils. 
Originally published in the American Quarterly Register. Pamphlet. 8vo. Boston, 1839. 



CHAPTER IV. 



1770-1771. 

Hezekiali Smith appointed by the Corporation to solicit subscriptions for the College in 
South Carolina and Georgia — Credentials — Sketch of Smith — Account of his mis- 
sion — Letter from Oliver Hart — Action of the Corporation on Smith's final report — 
Vote of the Corporation in favor of the children of Jews — Corner stone of the College 
edifice laid — Progress of the building — Extracts from Corporation records and the 
Providence Gazette — Report of Nicholas Brown & Co. in behalf of the Building Com- 
mittee, March 11, 1771 — Account of receipts and expenditures — Report of the 
auditing committee — Hon. Nicholas Cooke — Further extracts from the records 
respecting the building — Manning's correspondence — Samuel Stennett, of London — 
Manning's letter and Stennett's reply — Hollis family — Eliphalet Smith — Samuel 
Shepard — William Gordon — Rev. Joseph Snow — Commencements held in Snow's 
meeting-house — Account of Commencement for 1770 — Meeting of "Warren Associa- 
tion in Bellingham, Tuesday after Commencement — Appeal to the Baptists pub- 
lished in Providence Gazette — Committee on Grievances — Hezekiah Smith chosen 
agent to the Court of Great Britain to seek redress from oppressions on the part of 
the Standing Order— Circular Letter for 1770 — Ascribed to Manning — Dr. Stennett's 
influence with His Majesty's Commissioners in disallowing acts of oppression in the 
Province of Massachusetts Bay respecting Ashfield — Extracts from "Acts and 
Resolves" — Backus on the repeal of the Ashfield law — Letter from Manning illus- 
trating his methods of discipline — Letter to Smith — Letter to John Ryland — 
Ryland's reply — Rev. Dr. John Ryland — List of men recommended for College 
honors — Bitterness of the "New England Presbyterians," or Congregationalists, 
towards the College — Letter to Stennett — Trials and discouragements in connec- 
tion with the College — Account of Commencement in 1771 — Smith's diary — Presi- 
dent's address to the graduating class — Letter to Thomas Llewelyn — Bristol 
Academy — Letter from Nicholas Brown to Hezekiah Smith — Affair of the Gaspee — 
John Brown — Letter to Ryland — Lotteries— Latin School — Commencement for 
1772 — Smith's diary — Account of Commencement ivova. Providence Gazette — Corpo- 
ration records — Need of funds — Letter to Ryland — "Inveterate enmity of the New 
England Clergy "—Donation to the Library from Dr. Gill — Letter to Stennett — 
Manning attends a remarkable funeral in Swansea — Esek Brown. 

At the annual meeting of the Corporation held in Warren, Wednes- 
day, Sept. 6, 1769, and adjourned from day to day until the 8th, it was 

Voted, That the Rev. Hezekiah Smith be desired by this Corporation to solicit benefac- 
tions for their use in the Southern and Western Provinces of this Continent or elsewhere, 
19 



146 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

and that suitable credentials be given him for this purpose, signed by the Chancellor 
and President, with the seal of the Corporation annexed. 

The following is a copy of the "credentials," from a rough draft on 
file: — 

By the Honorable Stephen Hopkins, Esquire, Chancellor, and the Reverend James 
Manning, President of the College or University in the English Colony of Rhode Island 
and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America. 

To THE Reverend Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, in America, 

Greeting : — 
Whereas, the General Assembly of the Colony aforesaid, taking into consideration 
the many advantages derived to society from educating youth in useful literature, did 
grant a charter incorporating the persons therein named in a body politic, and empow- 
ering them to erect, found, and endow a College or University in said Colony: — And 
whereas, the said Corporation from the smallness of their funds, have found themselves 
under a necessity of requesting the generous assistance of the friends of religion and 
learning without the said Colony: — And whereas, the said Corporation at their annual 
meeting at Warren, on the first Wednesday in September, instant, being well convinced 
of your affection and regard to the said College or University, and of your integrity and 
ability, did unanimously appoint and request you to solicit and receive benefactions in 
any part of America for the benefit of the said Institution. These are, therefore, to 
empower and authorize you, the said Hezekiah Smith, to receive all such charitable 
donations as shall be made in America, for the erecting, founding, or endowing the said 
College or University ; assuring the donors that their benefactions shall be religiously 
applied by the said Corporation to the purposes they shall direct. 

In testimony whereof, we, the said Chancellor and President, have hereunto set our 
hands, and caused the seal of the said College or University to be aflfixed, this 

[L. S.] eighth day of September, in the ninth year of the reign of His Most Sacred 
Majesty, George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, etc. 
Anno Domini, 1769. 

By order, Stephen Hopkins, Chancellor. 

James Manning, President. 

Mr. Smith, whose relations with Manning down to the close of life 
were those of the greatest intimacy, and whose name frequently occurs 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 147 

throughout these pages, was born in Hampstead, Long Island, New- 
York, on the 21st of April, 1737. In his youth he became pious, and 
at the age of nineteen joined the Baptist Church in Morristown, New 
Jersey, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Gano. He com- 
menced his classical learning at the Hopewell Academy, entered the 
College of New Jersey at Princeton, and was graduated in 1762 in the 
same class with Manning. After leaving college he travelled through 
the Southern Provinces, partly in order to recover his health, which 
had become somewhat impaired by a too close confinement to his 
studies. In a single year he rode on horseback upwards of four thou- 
sand miles, and preached two hundred sermons, often to crowded and 
deeply affected congregations. He thus laid the foundations of lasting 
friendship with the Rev. Messrs. Hart, Pelot, and others of a kindi-ed 
spirit, whose intercourse and correspondence proved a delight to him 
ill his riper years. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1763, he was publicly 
ordained at Charleston as an evangelist, and set apart for the work 
of the Christian ministry. The Baptist Church in Haverhill, Massa- 
chusetts, gathered through his instrumentality, was organized on the 
9th of May, 1765, and he was chosen the pastor. Here he labored as 
an educator, a zealous patriot, and an earnest and effective preacher 
of the Gospel during a period of forty years, or until his death, which 
occurred Jan. 22, 1805. During the War of the Revolution he served 
as Chaplain, and was present at the battles of Bunker Hill, Long 
Island, and Stillwater, and also at Saratoga, when Burgoyne surren- 
dered to the American forces under General Gates. For a full account 
of his life, see "Chaplain Smith and the Baptists." 

Mr. Smith left home on his important mission for the College, Oct. 
2, 1769, and returned June 8, 1770, having been absent from the 
people of his charge a little over eight months. He travelled exten- 
sively through South Carolina and Georgia, preaching as he had oppor- 
tunity, and prosecuting with energy and zeal the work to which he had 
been appointed. His fervid piety, his eloquence, his commanding pres- 
ence and genial manners, made him everywhere a welcome guest, and 
enabled liim to overcome opposition and indifference. He succeeded 



148 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IV. 

in collecting about twenty-five hundred dollars, most of which was 
expended upon the College building, agreeably to a suggestion made 
by Manning in his anonymous letter to Nicholas Brown, published in 
the preceding chapter on the location. In a letter to Dr. Stennett, 
dated June T, 1770, Manning writes : — " Our brother, Hezekiah 
Smith, of Haverhill, has collected and obtained subscriptions in South 
Carolina and Georgia, from whence he has just returned, to the amount 
of about £500 sterling." 

The following is from the Providence Gazette for Jan. 13, 1770 : — 

We hear the Kev. Hezekiah Smith has collected three hundred pounds sterling in 
South Carolina, for the College intended to he erected in this Colony. This sum, we 
are told, would have been more than doubled, had it not been for a proposal lately 
made there to found one in Charleston. The high opinion that people abroad entertain 
of this Institution, which they manifest by their benevolent donations, cannot but 
excite the same commendable spirit in those of ability in the more adjacent colonies, 
particularly in this, and stimulate them to imitate actions so truly laudable. 

The following, taken from a Charleston paper, dated Oct. 26, 1769, 
shows that his mission was regarded with somewhat of distrust, and 
perhaps with disfavor, by not a few of the good people of the South : — 

In the sloop Sally, Captain Schermerhorn, from New York, who arrived here last 
Friday, came no less than forty-five passengers ; amongst them, John Smith, Esq., and 
Mrs. Smith, of New York; Capt. Elijah Steel, Mr. Thomas Ivers, of this place; and 
the Rev. Hezekiah Smith, who, we hear, is commissioned to solicit benefactions 
towards establishing a College at Warren, Rhode Island Government, while such a 
necessary institution is entirely neglected here. Surely, charity should begin at 
home. 

According to the account submitted by Mr. Smith to the Corpora- 
tion, at the annual meeting held in Providence, Thursday, Sept. 6, 
1770, he had collected of " sundry benefactors " in South Carolina and 
Georgia, as per special account rendered and remitted to the Treasurer 
at various times, £2,523-8-6, South Carolina currency, £5 being 
equal to £1 sterling. This would be, as already stated, about twenty- 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 149 

five hundred dollars ; a large sum of money in those early days of 
povert}^ and distress. While the £888 10s. 2d. sterling, obtained in 
England and Ireland by Mr. Edwards, was constituted a permanent 
fund for the support of the President, the money obtained by Mr. 
Smith was expended in supplying the immediate needs of the College. 
This we infer from the fact that in 1775, when Colonel Bennet resigned 
his office as Treasurer, the permanent funds amounted to but X 1,349 
14s. 8d., lawful money, or about forty-five hundred dollars. Of the 
balance of subscriptions due, amounting, according to Mr. Smith's 
report, to £1,316 17s., only a small part was ever collected ; the dis- 
turbances of the times and the war with England that ensued probably 
preventing. 

A small duodecimo manuscript of twenty-six pages, in the hand- 
writing of Mr. Smith, is on file among the College archives. It is enti- 
tled, "An exact list of benefactions, etc., to the Rhode Island College, 
collected and got subscribed in South Carolina and Georgia, by Heze- 
kiah Smith." It gives not only the names of benefactors, with the 
several amounts subscribed, but also the names of others upon whom 
Mr. Smith called, with remarks added, such as, "No money," "Doubt- 
ful," "Probable," " Call again," " Out of town," " Go thy way for this 
time," etc. This interesting document, which the writer published in 
1867 in his "Documentary History of Brown University," was obtained 
through the late Rev. Ebenezer Thresher, of Dayton, Ohio, a graduate 
of the University in the class of 1827. 

The following letter from the Rev. Oliver Hart, shows how Mr. 
Smith was received at the South, and how he performed the delicate 
and responsible duties of his mission : — 

Charleston, April 17, 1770. 
Dear Mr. Manning: 

As our good friend Mr. Smith is now almost ready to embark for your Northern 
clime, I embrace the opportunity of sending you a few lines, which I hope you will 
accept as a superadded token of my unfeigned regard. I am sorry that Mr. Smith is 
obliged to leave us so soon. His labors have been acceptable to my jieople universally, 
and many others have constantly crowded to hear him. Some, I trust, have received 
advantage by his faithful preaching. Two young men were to see him last night under 



150 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IV. 

soul concern. May the good work be carried on in their hearts, and may we yet hear of 
many more being awakened to a sense of their lost state by nature. As to his endeavors 
to serve the College, they have been indefatigable, and his success has been more than 
equal to what could have been expected, all things considered. I am sure he has 
merited the grateful acknowledgments of the Corporation. No man could have done 
more, and few would have done so much as he has, to serve the Institution. He has met 
with much opposition, and borne many reflections, but none of these things have dis- 
couraged him. I heartily wish the benefactions of this Province may greatly promote 
the welfare of the College. Great grace be with you. 

I am, yours, etc., 

Oliver Hart. 

After the reading of Mr. Smith's account, the Corporation 

Voted, That the accounts presented by the Kev. Hezekiah Smith, of the donations 
and subscriptions by him received in the Provinces of South Carolina and Georgia be 
accepted, and that the Corporation highly approve of his conduct, and return him their 
hearty thanks for his great and generous services. 

Voted, also. That as Mr. Smith was long absent from his people in the service of the 
Corporation, and his salary in that time would have amounted to sixty-six pounds, 
thirteen shillings and four pence, that the Corporation would willingly make up that 
sum to him ; but as he generously refuses to receive anything on that account more than 
a remission of his subscription of forty dollars to the College, the said subscription is 
accordingly remitted, and the Corporation gratefully consider the remainder of said 
sum which he would have received for his salary, as a donation to the Institution. 

The sum of twenty pounds having been reported as a subscription 
from Mr. Moses Linds, a Jewish merchant, of Charleston, it was there- 
upon 

Voted, That the children of Jews may be admitted into this Institution, and entirely 
enjoy the freedom of their own religion without any constraint or imposition whatever. 
And that the Chancellor and President do write to Mr. Moses Linds, of Charleston, 
South Carolina, and give him information of this resolution. 

We resume now our account of the College building. The names 
of the Building Committee, as given in the previous chapter, were the 
Hon. Stephen Hopkins, John Brown, John Jenckes, Sylvester Child, 
and Capt. John Warren. " The gentlemen appointed for carrying on 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 151 

the building of the College edifice," says the record, "appeared before 
the Corporation and generously offered to do the same without charg- 
ing any commissions therefor." These gentlemen were the " Four 
Brothers," Nicholas, Joseph, John, and Moses Brown, who, after the 
final vote on the location, "concluded to take charge of building the 
necessary buildings, purchasing land for the same, etc." This we learn 
from the letter from Moses Brown to his "esteemed friend, Francis 
Wayland."^ The following from the Providence G-azette of May 19, 
1770, may be regarded as an official statement of the laying of the 
corner stone, which, according to Mr. Howland, was at the bottom of 
the cellar wall, in the southwest corner of the building : — 

Monday last (May 14) the first foundation stone of the College about to be erected 
here, was laid by Mr. John Brown, of this place, merchant, in presence of a number of 
gentlemen, friends to the Institution. About twenty workmen have since been 
employed on the foundation, which number will be increased, and the building will be 
completed with all possible dispatch. 

Tradition adds that Mr. Brown, in accordance with the customs of 
the times, generously treated the crowd with punch, in honor of the 
joyful occasion. Doct. Solomon Drowne, an early graduate of the 
College, in his diary, gives one or two interesting items : — " March 26, 
1770. This day the Committee for setting the spot for the College met 
at the new Brick School House, when it was determined it should be 
set on the hill opposite Mr. John Jenckes, up the Presbyterian Lane. 
March 27. This day they began to dig the cellar for the College. 
May 14. This day the first stone was laid for the foundation of the 
College." The work now proceeded rapidly, and the enthusiasm of 
the people appears to have been very general and intense. As in the 
building of the Tabernacle of old, contributions of labor and materials 
were freely given. The progress of the building was greatly accel- 
lerated by the disturbances in Boston, and the consequent interrup- 
tions of business, enabling the Committee to secure from that place an 
ample supply of skilful workmen. As early as June 7, 1770, Man- 



1 See Moses Brown's letter to Francis Wayland in previous chapter, page 137. 



152 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. IV. 

ning writes : — " The building proceeds faster than could have been 
expected, its magnitude considered, which is one hundred and fifty by 
forty-six, with a projection in the middle of ten feet on each side (east 
and west sides, ten by thirty feet), for the public rooms. It is to be 
four stories high, with an entry of twelve feet through the middle of 
each, and is to be built of brick. The town of Providence itself has 
nearly provided for the building, as they have raised by subscription 
near four thousand pounds, lawful money, at six shillings per dollar. 
The beneficence of a few Baptists in this place, their fortunes consid- 
ered, is almost unparalled." 

At the annual meeting of the Corporation, held on Thursday, Sep- 
tember 6, 1770, it was 

Voted, That the Corporation do approve of what the committee for building the Col- 
lege and the President's hoiise have done in that business. That they be empowered 
to cause the stones on the College land to be made into a wall ; to fill up the holes from 
whence said stones were dug ; to remove and repair the barn on said land ; and to make 
such other improvements thereon as shall be thought by them necessary. 

The following vote will be read with interest, showing the great 
crowd of people that attended the exercises of the first Commencement 
at Providence : — 

Voted, That the thanks of the Corporation be given to the Rev. Mr. Snow and his 
society, for the use of the meeting-house yesterday, and that they repair all damages 
that were occasioned by the throng, and that the President and the Committee for 
carrying on the building of the College edifice do perform the same accordingly. 

From the report finally rendered, it appears that Benjamin Mann was 
paid by the Committee four shillings and eight pence " for setting seven 
squares of glass in Mr. Snow's meeting-house, broke at Commence- 
ment." The following appeared in the Crazette for September 15th : — 

The Corporation of the College in this Colony, at their last session, observing the 
extraordinary forwardness of the College edifice and the immediate necessity of money 
to defray the expenses, as the timber for the fourth floor is now on, take this oppor- 
tunity to request the severallsubscribers immediately to pay their subscriptions to the 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 153 

treasurer of the Corporation, or the Committee for carrying on the building, or any 
others who may be empowered to receive the same. 

Another notice from the Building Committee appears in the 
Grazette for Jan. 19, 1771 : — 

The Committee for building the College desire all persons who are subscribers to 
pay their subscriptions immediately, as the workmen are now daily calling for their 
money. As advertising is attended with expense to the College, it is earnestly 
requested that it need not be repeated. 

N. B. Some inch and quarter plank and floor boards are yet wanted, and will be 
received in lieu of money, if broiight immediately. 

The building had now approached completion, and a full account of 
the receipts and expenditures up to March 11, 1771, was presented by 
Nicholas Brown & Co. in behalf of the Building Committee, at the 
Corporation meeting in September following. The amount expended 
for the President's house and the College edifice, for the two buildings 
were carried on together, was according to this account, two thousand 
eight hundred and forty-four pounds, five shillings, three and one-quar- 
ter pence, lawful money, equal to about ten thousand dollars. This 
original account of "sundry supplies " and " sundry subscriptions " is 
now on file. It is an exceedingly interesting document, written in a 
large, plain hand, and filling sixteen pages of folio ledger paper. Some 
of these items of expenditure are curious and interesting, illustrating 
the progress of the buildings, and throwing light on the habits and cus- 
toms of our fathers : — 

1770. Jan. 1. To cash paid Robert Currie, for passage of Joseph Brown, 
Jonathan Hamman, and Zeph. Andrews to Cambridge, 

to view the colleges, 12 dollars £3 12 

" " To cash, Joseph Brown paid the expenses in said journey 2 16 

To John and Moses Brown's horses to Samuel Fenner's to 
purchase the lot for the College, and from thence to 
Jonathan Randall, Esq., and then to Fenner's again, 

in all seven miles 5 3 

" " To John Brown's horse and ferriage to Elisha Burr's, in 

Rehoboth, to contract for brick, nine miles 3 7 

20 



Chap. IV. 


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154 BROWN UNIVERSITT 

1770. Jan 1. To Nicholas Brown's horse to Jeremiah Williams 

" "To cash paid for the postage of a letter to the Corporation.. 

April 2. To cash, Zeph. Andrews paid for expenses in Boston, 

besides what Joseph Brown paid 

" 7. To postage of a letter from the Architect of Philadelphia,. 

" 17. To paid Wm. Compton for calling a meeting of the sub- 
scribers 2 6 

" " To paid ditto for his attendance at a meeting at the Court 

House, and bill 3 00 

" " To refuse boards judged by Hammon to be worth, to stick 

boards on, etc 4 

" " To one-quarter-load of wood of N. B. to lay boards on 16 

" May 17. To 3 qts. rum, allowed Cole & John Jenckes 1 8 

" 24. To 3 pts. rum allowed John Jenckes for the scow men 6 10 

" 25. To Town scow two days fetching stones 6 

" May 25. To one-half day's work of Earle's negro. 1 6 

" " To cash paid Comstock for one-half day's carting with three 

creatures 3 

" June 1. To paid Henry Paget, Esq., for twelve and one-half days' 

work of his negro Pero, and bill at 3s 1 17 6 

" 9. Toonewheelbarrow, new, but broke to pieces in the service. 10 6 

" 19. To paid James and Abraham Littlehale for one month's 

work of each at 30s., at the foundation 3 

" " To one pail allowed A. Cole for the people to carry water 
to drink in 

" " To 4 gall. West India rum for the digging of the well. . 

'• " To 1 qt. ditto allowed by John Jenckes 

" 21. To i gall, ditto at twice for the well 

" 28. To 4 gall, rum for the well diggers 

" " To 1 gall. West India rum when laying the first floor. . 

" Aug. 2. To 2 galls, ditto and 2 lbs. sugar, second floor 

" 6. To 3 pints ditto allowed Simmons for " extraordinary ser- 
vices" 1 6 

" 21. To 2 galls, good rum and 2 lbs. sugar when raising the 

President's house 9 8^ 

" 25. To 4 galls. West India rum, very good and old, and 1 lb. 

sugar, third floor 15 7^ 

" Sept. 14. To 4 galls, ditto and 1 lb. sugar, fourth floor 14 7 



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1770-1771. AND MANNING. 155 

1770. Sept. 14. To 1 pt. ditto allowed the carpenters gratis 7 

" Oct. 9. To 7| galls, old "West India rum and 2 lbs. sugar when 

raising the fifth floor 1 8 4 

" 13, To 3 galls. West India rum when raising roof 10 6 

1771. Jan. 7. To cash paid Oliver Bowen for the College land, the remain- 

der, £30 15s. 7d., paid by John Jenckes, the whole £84.. 53 4 5 
" " To 5 acres land bought of Samuel Fenner, at 90 dollars per 

acre, is £135 ; to one year's interest, 8s. 2d 143 2 

" Feb. 7. To 1 box glass for President's house 3 3 

" " To paid Benjamin Mann, for setting seven squares glass in 

Mr. Snow's meeting house, broke at Commencement.. . 4 8 

" March 8. To paid Ebenezer Leland, for painting the College and 

President's house 9 

From the foregoing account, it will appear, that the amount paid 
for the original College lands, comprising about eight acres, was two 
hundred and nineteen pounds, or seven hundred and thirty dollars ; 
being ninety dollars per acre, for what is now valued at one dollar and 
upwards per square foot. The last item is for painting. It was hoped 
that the building would be ready for the students in the fall. Dr. 
Stiles, however, in his diary for November, 1771, thus writes : — " On 
Monday I went to visit the College, where five or six lower rooms are 
finished off. They have about twenty students, though none are yet 
living in the College edifice." 

A few more extracts from the records touching the College edifice, 
and we pass to other subjects. The auditing committee of the 
accounts presented by Nicholas Brown & Co. thus reported : — 

We, the subscribers, being appointed by the Corporation of the College at their 
meeting in April last, to audit the accounts of the Committee for building said Col- 
lege : — 

Have, in obedience to said order, carefully examined their respective accounts, 
with the several vouchers thereto annexed ; and we find a balance from the subscribers 
for building said College due to Nicholas Brown & Co., of six hundred and twenty- 
three pounds, five pence, and one farthing, lawful money, agreeably to the above 
account current. 

And here upon this occasion, we think it our duty to inform all the benefactors to 



156 BEOWlSr UNIVEKSITY Chap. IY. 

this Institution, that the materials for said College, appear to us to have been pur- 
chased, collected, and put together with good judgment, prudence, and economy; and 
that this Committee, for this great application, disinterestedness, and activity, are 
justly entitled to the thanks of every one who wishes well to so arduous and important 

an undertaking. 

Nicholas Cooke, 

Darius Sessions, 

Joseph Russell. 
Providence, March 11, 1771. 

Whicli report, being read, was unanimously accepted and ordered 
to be recorded. 

Ordered, That the Secretary give a fair copy of the above report to each of the Com- 
mittee for purchasing materials and building said College, as a testimony of their 
entire approbation of their conduct. 

The Hon. Nicholas Cooke, whose name here appears as chairman 
of the auditing committee, took his engagement as a Trustee in 1769. 
Backus states that ' ' he was a Baptist himself, though in communion 
with a Congregational church." The Rev. Dr. James G. Vose, in his 
"Sketches of Congregationalism in Rhode Island," says that Mr. 
Cooke's name appears on the records of "Father Snow's Church," 
now the "Beneficent Church," in February, 1747. In the account 
which Backus in his third volume gives of Manning, we find the fol- 
lowing, which illustrates the peculiar condition of some of the Provi- 
dence churches in the early days : — "And when Governor Cooke was 
chosen member of the College Corporation, and some scrupled whether 
he could properly be denominated a Baptist, because he was a member 
of a Congregational church, he informed them that he was ever a Baptist 
on principle, and was baptized by immersion, and should have joined 
the Baptist Church in Providence, if such doctrine had been preached 
therein then as there was now." "Baptism by immersion," Dr. Vose 
adds, in his history of the Beneficent Church,^ " was frequently practised 
by Father Snow ; and the Providence River, then much wider and purer 



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1770-1771. AND MANNING. 157 

than now, witnessed many such scenes on either bank, from the shore 
in front of the First Baptist Meeting-house to that on or near the site 
of the present City Hall. Many of the early members, and some in 
later times were thus baptized." Nicholas Cooke's name appears as 
one of the subscribers for the erection of the College building to the 
amount of forty-five pounds, or one hundred and fifty dollars. 

Thursday Sept. 3, 1772. Voted, That the tiles for covering the College edifice shall 
be retained for that use. 

Whereas, a sum of money is immediately wanted to defray the expense of slating 
the College edifice, it is 

Resolved, That the Rev. John Gano be appointed to solicit donations for that purj^ose 
in this or the other colonies ; and that he be requested to proceed upon that business as 
soon as may be. 

Voted, That the sum of five dollars be taken for the use of each room in the College 
edifice annually, from those who live in them. 

Thursday, Sept. 2, 1773. Voted and Resolved, That the offer of the Secretary (Doct. 
Thomas Eyres) be accepted, that he would pay the interest of one hundred dollars for 
three years to any gentleman who will advance said sum towards finishing the rooms 
in the College edifice, after the balance in Mr. Howell's hands was expended, the 
Corporation being security for the original sum. 

The accompanying engraving presents a southwest view of the Col- 
lege, together with the President's house and garden. It was photo- 
graphed from a painting in the possession of the family of the late Presi- 
dent Messer. College, Prospect, and Waterman streets were not laid out 
when the painting was made. The older graduates will remember the 
well at the southeast corner, from whence such cool refreshing water 
was drawn. The stone walls on the east and north are the walls to which 
Manning refers in liis "trying experiences," as narrated by Dr. Water- 
house. "I made," says Manning, "my own garden, and took care of 
it, and repaired my dilapidated walls." The little building south of the 
house is the barn where he kept his horse, with which he was accus- 
tomed to journey during vacations. The little tower on the hill in the 
distance must be the "signal post," or beacon, erected in 1775, pursu- 
ant to the recommendations of Congress, for the purpose of giving 



158 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

notice to the surrounding country, in case of an attack on the town. 
It was fired on the 17th of August. Its light, says Staples, was seen 
in Newport, New London, Norwich, Pomfret, Prospect Hill in Cam- 
bridge, and in almost all the towns within the same distance from Prov- 
idence. 

The following extract shows that Mr. Gano, Manning's brother-in- 
law, was specially active in advocating the interests of the College : — 

Thursday, Sept. 8, 1774. Voted, That the thanks of the Corporation be presented to 
the Rev. John Gano, for his having used his best endeavors to promote a subscription 
for this College in the Southern colonies ; — that the manner in which he has proceeded 
is approved by the Corporation ; and he is hereby requested to proceed upon the same 
business in any other places and methods which he shall judge most beneficial towards 
the advancement of the College ; and the Secretary is ordered to give him a copy of 
this vote. 

One of the characteristic votes passed at the meeting of the Corpo- 
ration in 1770, reads asfoUows : — ''■Voted, That the Chancellor, the 
President, and the Secretary, be a Committee to authorize any gentle- 
man to take and collect subscriptions in any part of the world." "It 
is to be hoped," President Sears playfully remarks, "that the same 
liberal spirit in regard to receiving subscriptions, will always be mani- 
fested in this University." Perhaps it was this vote that encouraged 
Manning to secure by correspondence the co-operation and assistance of 
friends in England. For this purpose the line of packets owned by 
the Browns, and running regularly to and from London, afforded good 
facilities. In pursuance of this plan, which he continued through life, 
he now addressed a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Stennett, whom we 
shall presently mention, as chairman of the committee to act in conjunc- 
tion with the Standing Committee on Grievances. Dr. Stennett was 
for thirty-seven years the faithful and affectionate pastor of the Baptist 
church in Little Wild Street, London, and was regarded as one of the 
most eminent ministers of his own denomination. His various con- 
nections with Protestant Dissenters generally, and with members of the 
Established Church, gave him an opportunity to commend Baptists on 




Samuel Stennett. 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 159 

occasions when they required special aid. One of his constant hearers 
was the philanthropist, John Howard, whom Burke has so highly eulo- 
gized. George III., it is said, was on terms of intimacy with him, 
frequently calling at his house on Muswell Hill. He was remarkable, 
says his biographer, for the ease and suavity of his manners, for the 
good breeding, the polished language, and the graceful ways of the true 
gentleman. As a scholar and an author, he had no small repute. His 
Works, edited by the Rev. William Jones, were published in 1824, in 
three octavo volumes. These works, says Ivimey, display the author's 
proficiency in Greek, Latin, and the Oriental tongues, and establish his 
reputation for learning and genius. His father, Dr. Joseph Stennett, 
his grandfather, Joseph Stennett, his great-grandfather, Edward Sten- 
nett, his brother, Joseph Stennett, and liis son, Joseph Stennett, were 
all Baptist ministers. 

The accompanying portrait is from an engraving in Rippon's Bap- 
tist Register. 

To THE Rev. Dr. Stennett. 

Providence, June 7, 1770. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Although unknown to you, I take the freedom to trouble you with reading a letter 
from an unworthy friend. I was urged to this partly by the desire of our common 
friend, Mr. Henry Williams, merchant of New York, and partly because I have often 
heard that you are a lover of our nation, and are engaged to further the interests of the 
Baptist Society ; as also that you may be informed of the state of our College, the inter- 
ests of which I am told you have at heart. Of this the late very acceptable present of 
your two volumes of Sermons is an additional proof. I heartily wish that your example 
may be followed by others of our friends who have written for the public. 

It was resolved, after long deliberation, to place the College edifice in the town of 
Providence, in this Colony, as most conducive to the ends of its institution. This, how- 
ever, has been attended with considerable difficulty ; but I forbear to trouble you with 
the recital of our little affairs. The foundation of the College is now laid, and the 
building proceeds faster than could have been expected, its magnitude considered, 
which is one hundred and fifty by forty-six, with a projection in the middle, of ten feet 
on each side, for the public rooms. It is to be four stories high, with an entry of twelve 
feet through the middle of each, and is to be built of brick. It will contain fifty-six 
rooms in all. The town of Providence itself has nearly provided for the building, as 



160 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. IV. 

they have raised hy subscription near £4,000, lawful money, at six shillings per dollar. 
The beneficence of a few Baptists in this place, their fortunes considered, is almost 
unparalleled. I should rejoice to find many elsewhere like-minded. We should then see 
the College properly endowed, as well as founded. This we must expect from abroad. 
Added to the sum collected by Mr. Edwards in Europe, our Brother Hezekiah Smith, of 
Haverhill, has collected and obtained subscriptions in South Carolina and Georgia, 
from whence he has just returned, to the amount of about £600 sterling. 

It would be happy for us if we could find in England a family of Hollises^ to patro- 
nize our college ; but I fear the Baptists are not to expect such an instance of public 
spirit in their favor, although I have heretofore indulged such hopes, and am yet 
unwilling to give them up. 

Two young men have already engaged in the ministry who have been assisted by 
this Institution, and both from their beginnings give promise of usefulness. Their first 
attempts have thus far been highly acceptable to the public. May the Lord of the har- 
vest thrust out many more faithful laborers. In this part of the world the field for labor 
is very large, while the faithful and well-furnished laborers are truly few. To my great 
satisfaction, I lately received certain information of the conversion to Baptist princi- 
ples of a young Presbyterian minister, eminent for his piety and success as a preacher. 
The manner in which this was, by Divine Providence, brought about, is somewhat sin- 
gular. He was preaching upon John xiv. 15, when truth was let into his mind with 
such vividness as compelled him to open the nature of the ordinance of baptism so 
clearly as to convince the church, of which he was pastor, that believer's baptism by 
immersion only is a divine institution. In consequence of this, they sent a messenger 
to me to come and administer the ordinance to both minister and people, the most of 
whom expect immediately to submit thereto. As they, however, are more than one 
hundred miles distant from me, and near Mr. Smith, ^ he has engaged to supply my 



1 Concerning the Hollls family, who for nearly a century continued their benefactions to Harvard 
College, we may here state in hrief , what Pierce and Quincy have given at length in their histories 
of the University. Thomas HoUis, the father of the " benefactor," was born in 1634, and died in 1718. 
His son, called, by reason of his donations to Harvard, Thomas Hollis, 1st, died in 1731. A second 
son, Nathaniel, died in 1738. A third son, John, was a partner in business with his brother Thomas. 
Thomas Hollis, 2d, son of Nathaniel, died in 1735. The total amount of the benefactions of this 
family up to this date, " exceeded," says Quincy, " £6,000 currency of Massachusetts, which, consid- 
ering the value of money at that period, and the disinterested spirit by which their charities were 
prompted, constitutes one of the most remarkable instances of continued benevolence upon record." 
Thomas Hollis, 3d, was born in 1720, and died in 1774. His donations to Harvard College during his 
lifetime exceeded £1,400 sterling. Timothy Hollis died in 1791, at an advanced age. He gave £20 
sterling for the library. Thomas Brand Hollis, the last of the benefactors, was born in 1719, and 
died in 1804. His Memoirs were published in 1808, in two handsome quarto volumes, by his friend 
the Rev. John Disney. 

2 Rev. Hezekiah Smith. In his diary, we find the following : " Wednesday, June 13th. Went to 
Deerfleld, and preached from Acts xi. 23 : " Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 161 

place. I am also told that God is doing marvellous things in Virginia and North and 
South Carolina amongst the Baptists, bringing multitudes to submit to baptism accord- 
ing to Christ's instructions. And we are not quite forsaken in New England. In 
several towns on Cape Cod God is at work, although in general we have reason to cry, 
" Our leanness, our leanness! " 

My situation in the centre of American intelligence, especially as I have travelled 
through, and have correspondents in, most of the principal towns, furnishes me with 
an opportunity of knowing almost everything interesting to the Baptists, of whose 
affairs, should you be disposed to hear, you may depend upon receiving the best 
accounts I can collect, whenever you lay your commands in this way. However 
agreeable the like from you would be respecting affairs in Britain, yet, amidst your 
more important connections and engagements, the utmost I presume to ask is your 
indulgence for interrupting you by this tedious epistle, and beg leave to subscribe. 

Dear sir, your most unworthy brother, 

James Manning. 

To this letter Dr. Stennett thus replies : — 

London, Aug. 10, 1770. 
Keverend and Dear Sir: 

I received your favor of June 7th, and take this opportunity of returning to you my 
sincere thanks for it, and of assuring you that a correspondence with Mr. Manning, 
for whose character, before I received this expression of his friendship, I had great 
respect, will afford me a particular pleasure. I write by Mr. Gordon,^ a minister of the 
Independent persuasion of this city, who intends settling in America. He is a very 
sensible and worthy man, and has ample recommendations with him. His political 



was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." 
After the sermon I examined the Rev. Eliphalet Smith and a number of his hearers for baptism. 
Thursday, 14th, I preached in Mr. Smith's meeting-house from Col. ii. 11, 12. After sermon I bap- 
tized fourteen persons, whose names are as follows : Rev. Eliphalet Smith and his wife Nancy, Dea. 
Wadley Cram and his wife Elizabeth, Samuel Winslow and his wife Jane, James Philbrick and his 
wife Elizabeth, Jeremiah Present, Moses Clough, William Tirrill, Hannah Polsiper, Nancy Folsom, 
and Isaac Blasdel, of Chester, the rest of Deerfleld, who the same day were embodied into a Baptist 
church. A good day it was, indeed. The goings of the Lord were very evident." Two days after- 
wards Mr. Smith baptized seven persons, one of whom was Dr. Samuel Shepard, who, in 1771, was 
ordained as pastor over the church at Stratham. Mr. Stillman, of Boston, preached the sermon, 
Mr. Smith gave the charge, and President Manning the right hand of fellowship. Dr. Shepard 
became a very active and highly honored minister of the Baptist denomination. A sketch of his 
life appears in Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit. He was converted to Baptist sentiments, 
it seems, by reading Norcott's work on Baptism. 

1 William Gordon, D. D. He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and afterwards wrote a history 
entitled "The Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the United States of 
America," published in 1778, in four octavo volumes. For a more extended notice of Gordon, see 
later on. 

21 



162 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

speculations in favor of America, and some little misunderstanding with his people, 
occasioned by his not knowing how conscientiously to baptize all the children of those 
who attended his ministry, have engaged him to leave us, and spend the remainder 
of his life with you. Where he shall settle I believe he has not himself determined, 
but I imagine somewhere about Philadelphia or New York. Shoiild he take a tour 
your way, I have no doubt he will meet with a friendly and brotherly reception at 
Providence. I was educated at the same academy with him, and have a great esteem 
and affection for him. Indeed, he is well known and esteemed by all denominations 
here. 

I am glad your College is in such forwardness, and that the design, which is truly 
important, meets with so much encouragement among our friends on your side of the 
water. The groundless prejudices which have a long time prevailed among many 
good people of our persuasion, will, I hope, in time subside ; and nothing will con- 
tribute so much to the removing of them as the zeal, good behavior, and, with the 
blessing of God, success of the first young persons you send out into the ministry. I 
look upon it as a very kind Providence that hath set you at the head of this College ; 
and as I am sensible you must have many diflficulties to contend with, so I heartily 
pray you may have strength according to your day. The success you have already met 
with is a circumstance which I doubt not affords you no small encouragement, and I 
hope you will still, my dear sir, meet with a great deal more. I shall rejoice to help 
forward your design in any way that I am able. But you are sensible we have not a 
great deal of wealth in our denomination, and few of the Baptists, as I hinted before, 
are very warm advocates for learning. Dr. Llewelyn is your very good friend, and I 
am persuaded would be glad of an acquaintance with Professor Manning. I speak not 
from any intimation on his part, but from the particular knowledge I have of his 
character, and his good dispositions towards your plan. "We have had a great loss in 
Mr. Roffey,^ who died in April last, and through whose further good offices I hoped 
your College would have been considerably benefited. But God will, I hope, raise up 
friends. 

I cannot now be so particular as I wish, as I write in a hurry. By the hand that 
conveys this I have written to Mr. Stillman, of Boston, whom I have, I fear, wearied 
with a very long scrawl. I rejoice in the agreeable account you have favored me with, 
of the success of the Gospel in many parts, and that the truth with respect to baptism 
prevails. May the knowledge of Christ and of His ways spread far and wide. We are 



1 Mr. Roffey, it appears, was a benefactor of Rhode Island College. From the records we find 
that at a meeting of the Corporation held at Newport, Nov. 16, 1769, it was voted " That the thanks 
of this Corporation be transmitted to Mr. Samuel Roffey, for his generous benefaction to this 
Institution, by the Secretary." 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 163 

not without some instances of the power and grace of God among us ; and I think the 
interest in many places revives. New associations of ministers and congregations are 
lately set up in the country where there were none before. 

As to Dr. Moore's scheme, he has met with considerable success, though as yet but 
little has been collected among the Baptists. I believe about £1,000 is raised ; we have 
obtained also £1,000 of the King. Trustees are appointed for the management of the 
moneys collected, among whom, of the Baptists, are Mr. Stead, Dr. Llewelyn, and 
myself, who consider ourselves as particularly obliged to look after the interests of our 
friends in Nova Scotia. 

As to political matters, my time will allow me to say but little now. The sov- 
ereignty of Parliament over all the British dominions seems to be the great object of 
Government ; and yet I believe they would be glad to have peace and harmony restored. 
I made use of the argument of policy, as well as of the goodness of the cause itself, in 
favor of the discussion in Nova Scotia, and it was duly attended to. I ho^je the dis- 
couragements the Baptists have lately met with in America are removed, and their 
grievances in some degree at least redressed. I am sure, however, it would be good 
policy, to say no more of it, in the other denominations with you, to treat them well. 
And our friends, I hope, see the importance and reasonableness of taking every united 
step that our divine religion teaches, before they proceed further. But I must not run 
on any further at present. 

It will, I assure you, my dear friend, afford me a very sensible jpleasure, to hear 
from you quickly, and often ; and you will oblige me much by favoring me with all the 
news you can. My sincere Christian regards to Mr. Hezekiah Smith, for whose char- 
acter I have a high esteem, and all inquiring friends. I am, dear sir. 

Your very affectionate friend and brother, 

Samuel Stennett. 

The first Commencement in Providence was held in the meeting- 
house of the Society, now known as the Beneficent Congregational 
Society, on the west side of the river. This house, as Mr. Howland 
states, was the largest in town, and the congregation was largely Baptist 
in sentiment, two-thirds being Baptist, according to Dr. Stiles, and one- 
third Presbyterian. The Pastor, Rev. Joseph Snow, had formerly been 
a deacon in Mr. Cotton's church. In 1743, he with others, constituting 
at the time, according to Staples, a large part if not a majority of the 
church, seceded from the First Congregational Society, having become 
what were termed "New Lights" or Separatists. Tliis was at the 



164 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

time of the great awakening throughout New England, in consequence 
of the labors of Whitfield, when multitudes like Backus left the Stand- 
ing Order, and afterwards joined themselves to the Baptists. A new 
society was formed, a house of worship was built on the lot where the 
present house stands, and in 1747 Mr. Snow was ordained as the pastor. 
This relation he continued to sustain to a beloved and united people for 
many years. Hezekiah Smith, whenever he visited Providence, was 
accustomed to preach part of the time for Dr. Manning, and part of 
the time for Mr. Snow. In 1793 Mr. Snow and his adherents withdrew 
from the Beneficent Congregational Church and formed what is now 
known as the Richmond Street Church. He died in 1803 in his 
eighty-ninth year. Dr. Stephen Gano, of the First Baptist Church, 
preached his funeral sermon. 

All subsequent Commencements were held in Mr. Snow's meeting- 
house, until the completion of the new Baptist meeting-house, in 1776. 
At this first Commencement in Providence but four young men were 
graduated, one of whom, Hon. Theodore Foster, represented Rhode 
Island for thirteen years in the Senate of the United States, and at his 
death left many fruits of antiquarian research connected with Rhode 
Island history. For the following account we are again indebted to the 
Providence Crazette : — 

Providence, Sept. 8, 1770. 

On Wednesday was celebrated here the second Commencement in Rhode Island 
College. The parties concerned met at the court-house, about ten o'clock, from whence 
they proceeded to the Rev. Joseph Snow's meeting-house, in the following order : First 
the grammar scholars ; then the under classes, the candidates for degrees, the Bache- 
lors, the Trustees of the college, the Fellows, the Chancellor, the Governor of the 
Colony, and lastly, the President. When they were seated, the President introduced 
the business of the day by prayer ; then followed the salutatory oration in Latin, by 
Mr. Dennis, and a forensic dispute, with which ended the exercises of the forenoon. 

Those of the afternoon began with an intermediate oration on Catholicism, pro- 
nounced by Mr. Foster; then followed a syllogistic disputation in Latin, wherein Mr. 
Foster was respondent, and Messieurs Nash, Read, and Dennis, opponents. After this, 
the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on Messieurs John Dennis, Theodore 
Foster, Samuel Nash, and Seth Read ; and the degree of Master on the Rev. Isaac Eaton, 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 165 

Messieurs "William Bowen, Benjamin "West, David "Williams, Joseph Brown, and Abel 
Evans ; also on the Rev. Messieurs Hugh Evans, Daniel Turner, Samuel James, Benja- 
min Beddome, Benjamin "Wallin, John Reynolds, and Isaac "Woodman. To which suc- 
ceeded a valedictory oration by Mr. Reed, and then a charge to the graduates. 

The business of the day being concluded, and before the assembly broke up, a 
piece from Homer was pronounced by Master Billy Edwards,^ one of the grammar 
school boys, not nine years old. This, as well as the other performances, gained 
applause from a polite and crowded audience, and afforded pleasure to the friends of 
the Institution. But what greatly added to their satisfaction, was an opportunity of 
observing the forwardness of the college edifice, the first stone of which was laid not 
longer since than the latter end of May last, and 'tis expected the roof will be on next 
month. It is a neat brick building, one hundred and fifty feet by forty-six, four stories 
high, with a projection in the middle of ten feet on each side, containing an area of 
sixty-three feet by thirty, for a hall and other public uses. The building will accommo- 
date ixpwards of a hundred students. Its situation is exceedingly pleasant and healthy, 
being on the summit of a hill the ascent easy and gradual, commanding an extensive 
prospect of hills, dales, plains, woods, water, islands, etc. Who hath despised the day of 
small things 7 

In a previous chapter an account lias been given of the formation of 
the Warren Association through the agency of Manning, and of the 
steps taken at the anniversary meeting in 1769, to seek a remedy for 
the oppressive measures pursued by the Standing Order in Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut. This was to be done by petition and memorial, 
accompanied by full statements of grievances through a committee, of 
whom the Rev. Samuel Stillman, of Boston, was the chairman. The 
next meeting of the Association was to be held in Bellingham, in 
September, 1770, the Tuesday after Commencement. In accordance 
with the course now recommended, the following from this committee 
appeared in the Providence Gazette for Aug. 11, 1770. It also after- 
wards appeared in the Boston Evenmg Post : — 

To THE Baptists in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, who are and have been 

oppressed in any way on a religious account : 

It would be needless to tell you, that you have long felt the effects of the laws, by 
■which the religion of the government in which you live is established ; your purses 



» Son of the Rev. Morgan Edwards. He was graduated in the class of 1776. 



166 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

have felt the burdens of ministerial rates, and when these would not satisfy your 
enemies, your property hath been taken from you and sold for half its value. These 
things you cannot forget. You will therefore readily hear and attend, when you are 
all desired to collect your cases of suffering and have them well attested ; such as taxes 
you have paid to build meeting-houses, to settle ministers and support them, with all 
the time, money, and labor you have lost in waiting on courts, feeing lawyers, etc. And 
bring or send such cases to the Baptist Association to be held at Bellingham, the 
Tuesday next after the first "Wednesday in September, when measures will be reso- 
lutely adopted for obtaining redress from another quarter than that to which repeated 
application hath been made unsuccessfully. Nay, complaints, however just and 
grievous, have been treated withindiiference, and scarcely, if at all, credited. "We deem 
this our conduct perfectly justifiable, and hope you will pay a particular regard to this 
desire, and be exact in your account of your sufferings, and punctual in your attend- 
ance at the time and place above mentioned. 

At this meeting of the Association in Bellingham, Mr. Smith pre- 
sided as moderator, and Mr. Stillman acted as clerk, after having 
preached the Introductory Sermon. The records, "which exist only in 
manuscript, read as follows in reference to the matter of " oppression " 
and "redress " : — 

A committee was chosen to seek redress of all grievances of the Baptists, consisting 
of the Rev. Samuel Stillman, Rev. Hezekiah Smith, Rev. John Davis, Rev. Isaac 
Backus, Rev. Noah Alden, Philip Freeman, Philip Freeman, Jr., Nathan Plimpton, 
and Richard Gridley. The Rev. Hezekiah Smith was chosen agent to the Court of 
Great Britain, to act in conjunction with the Rev. Dr. Samuel Stennett, Rev. Benjamin 
"Wallin, and Thomas Llewelyn, LL. D., of London. 

This committee, which was continued from year to year, with 
changes in the membership, was long known as the Committee on 
Grievances, or the Standing Committee of the Baptists for New 
England. 

In accordance with the notice in the papers, the following cases of 
suffering were reported, viz. : From Ashfield ; two cases from Prince- 
ton, Worcester County ; two cases from Berwick, York County ; also 
from Douglass in Worcester County ; from Colchester, New Hamp- 
shire ; from Montague, Hampshire County ; and three cases from 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 167 

Enfield in Connecticut. The Circular Letter^ for this year reads as 
follows : — 

CiKCULAB Letter of the Warren Association. 1770. 

The Elders and Messengers met in association at Bellingham, September 11th, 12th, 
and 13th. To the churches they represent, and all others of the denomination of 
Baptists, send greeting: 

We met in peace, and upon reading the letters from the several churches, found that 
they were generally at peace among themselves, some of them having had considerable 
additions, — the number of which, in all the churches, amounts to fifty-six. We find 
that God hath not left himself without a witness, but is still carrying on the work of 
grace in the churches. We would not despise the day of small things ; yet at the same 
time desire you to unite in solemn prayer to the great Head of the Church, that he 
would hasten the time when converts shall come as the clouds, and fly as doves to 
their windows. Oh happy period, which God in his wisdom has given us reason to 
expect, when the whole world shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord! We 
have however to inform you, dearly beloved, that some of our churches are sorely 
oppressed on account of religion. Their enemies continue to triumph over them ; and 
as repeated applications have been made to the courts of justice and to the general 
courts for redress of such grievances, but as yet have been neglected, it is now become 
necessary to carry the affair to England in order to lay it before the King, It is there- 
fore warmly recommended to you to endeavor to collect money to defray the expense 
which will arise from such a proceeding. Should you not contribute to this matter, 
some of our brethren must unavoidably be ruined as to this world; especially our 
brethren at Ashfield, some of whose lands have been taken from them and sold for a 
trifle. Brethren, make the case your own, and then do as you would be done by. We 
also recommend to you to search for promising gifts among yourselves, and bring 
them to the trial, as there is a great want of ministerial help in the churches. In fine, 
brethren, live in love ; preserve the unity of the Sjiirit in the bonds of peace ; keep 
your garments unspotted by the flesh, and may the God of peace and love be with you. 

P. S. — The churches are requested to be expeditious in sending their contributions 
to the Rev. Samuel Stillman, of Boston, who is a^Dpointed treasurer, and to take his 
receipts. If our agent, Mr. Hezekiah Smith, should not go to England, the money 



1 This letter was found among the Smith papers and printed for the first time in " Life, Times, 
and Correspondence of Manning." The authorship is not positively known, although it has been 
ascribed to Manning. It was the custom in the early days before the minutes were printed, for 
pastors and delegates to secure a manuscript copy of the Circular Letter and read it to their 
churches on returning from the Association. 



168 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

■will be returned when demanded. It is also requested that the churches will unite in 
keeping the first Thursday in October next as a day of fasting and prayer, to entreat 
God to favor our undertaking to obtain liberty of conscience, and to save our property, 
and consequently our families, from ruin ; also that He will be graciously pleased to 
revive religion, and to deliver our nation from its present difficulties. 

Had Mr. Smith gone to London as agent of the Association, he 
would without doubt have had a cordial reception among his English 
brethren. His multiplied cares and increasing responsibilities obliged 
him eventually to decline a service which required so much time and 
labor ; and at the meeting of the Association in 1771, the Rev. John 
Davis was appointed in his place. That he corresponded Avith Dr. 
Stennett, and that the committee of which Dr. Stennett was chairman, 
succeeded in aiding the cause of truth, and in removing oppression, 
may be seen from the following taken from "Acts and Resolves of the 
Province of Massachusetts Bay," Vol. 4, page 1045 : — 

Wednesday, May 22, 1771. At a meeting of His Majesty's Commissioners for Trade 
and Plantations. Present. Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whately. 
Read a memorial of Dr. Stennett, praying their Lordships to recommend to His 
Majesty to disallow an Act passed in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in June, 1768, 
by which the Antipedobaptists and Quakers are compelled to pay to the support of a 
different persuasion. Their Lordships thereupon read and considered said Act, and it 
was ordered that the draught of a representation to His Majesty should be prepared, 
proposing that it may be disallowed. 

At the Court of St. James, the 31st day of July, 1771. Present. The King's Most 
Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas the Great or General Court or Assembly of 
His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, did in June, 1768, 
pass an Act which hath been transmitted, entitled as follows : — viz. : An Act in 
addition to an Act entitled an Act for creating the New Plantation called Huntstown 
in the County of Hampshire into a town by the name of Ashfield. 

Which Act, together with a representation from the Lords' Commissioners for Trade 
and Plantations, thereupon having been referred to the consideration of a Committee 
of the Lords of His Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council for Plantation Affairs, 
the said Lords of the Committee did this day report as their opinion to His Majesty 
that the said Act ought to be disallowed. His Majesty taking the same into consid- 
eration, was pleased with the advice of His Privy Council to declare his disallowance 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 169 

of the said Act ; and to order that the said Act be and it is herebj' disallowed and 
rejected: — Whereof the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Commander-in-Chief of 
His Majesty's said Province of the Massachusetts Bay for the time being, and all others 
whom it may concern, are to take notice and govern themselves accordingly. 

Backus, in speaking of the rejection by the Legislature of a bill to 
repeal the Ashfield law, says : — "And what a cloud was hereby 
brought over an oppressed people ! On the side of the oppressors was 
power, but they seemed to have no helper. But, behold ! In a Boston 
paper of October 21, (1771,) it was declared that the King in Council 
had disannulled that law. What a surprise did this occasion ! How 
could so despicable a people get access to the throne, and obtain such 
an act, especially in so short a time ! " 

The following letter was originally published in Staples 's Annals of 
Providence. It affords a good illustration of the early discipline of the 
College under the care and management of its first President : — 

Providence, Dec. 12, 1770. 

Sir : — You may think it strange that I, a stranger to you, should address you by this 
epistle; but you will excuse me when I give the reason; which is, an information that 
I have received that one Scott, a youth under my tuition, some time ago riding through 
Smithfield, in company with one Dennis, of Newport, rode up to, and in a most auda- 
ciously wicked manner, broke the windows of the Friends' meeting-house in said town, 
of which meeting I understand you are clerk. Upon the first hearing of this scanda- 
lous conduct, I charged him with the fact, which he confessed, with no small degree of 
apparent penitence; whereupon I thought good to inform you, and by you the meeting, 
that they shall have ample reparation of damages and such other satisfaction as they 
shall think proper ; being determined to punish with the utmost rigor all such j^erverse 
youth as may be intrusted to my care, as I hold such base conduct in the greatest detes- 
tation. 

You will be so good as to let me know when the first meeting of business is held, 
that I may send him up to appear before them, and make not only reparation, but such 
a confession before the meeting as shall be fully satisfactory. I choose to mortify him 
in this way, and should be very glad that some of the heads of the meeting would 
admonish him faithfully and show him the evil of such doings, if this would be agree- 
able to them; but I speak this, not to direct them in the matter, but what would be 
agreeable to me. When this is settled, we shall discipline him with the highest punish- 



170 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IV. 

ment we inflict, next to banishment from the society, and with that if he does not com-, 

ply with the above. 

The youth has been but few months under my care, is a child of a respectable family 

in Kingston, Massachusetts Bay, and had his school-learning in New Haven. I am 

sorry for his.friends, and that it happened to fall to my lot to have such a thoughtless, 

vicious pupil ; but I am determined this shall be the last enormity, one excepted, of 

which he shall be guilty while under my care. I hope the meeting will inform me how 

he complies with these injunctions, if they think proper to take these or any other 

methods. Please, by the first opportunity, favor me with a line in answer to the above 

requests, and you will do a favor to 

A real friend, 

Jamks Manning. 
Mr. Thomas Lapham, Jr., in Smithfield. 

The young man, Judge Staples adds, appeared before the meeting, 
according to the direction of the President, made a suitable acknowl- 
edgment of what he had done, paid the damage done to the windows, 
received some wholesome admonition and advice, and returned to his 
College duties, it is to be hoped, a better man. Whether his associate 
was the Dennis who was graduated the September previous to this 
occurrence, we are not informed. It is certain that he was not a youth 
over whom Manning at this time had special control. 

Manning thus writes to his friend Smith, of Haverhill. As we have 
before remarked, he uses not unfrequently the term Presbyterians for 
Congregationalists. This perhaps was natural, coming as he did from 
the Jerseys. Edwards and others did the same. The two denomina- 
tions are far more distinct at the present day than they were a century 
ago. 

Newport, May 1, 1771. 
Dear Sir: 

I perceive, by an application made to a neighboring Baptist church, that the people 
in Richmond, in Hampshire Government (I mean the Baptist church there), are in 
great distress on account of the taxes for the clergy ; and so are the Baptists in sundry 
other towns thereabouts. The charter gave a farm to the first settled minister in that 
town; and Mr. Balow, the Baptist minister, was the first, though a Friend speaker was 
there before him. Now the Friends have united with the Presbyterians, and voted the 
farm for the use of the town. Upon the whole they seem troubled much, and some are 
likely to be totally ruined by the Presbyterians. Now if you can lend any aid or assist- 



1770-1771. ANB MANNING. 171 

ance, you will do them a singular favor ; and I have been urged to write to you, that, if 
possible, you might make interest with the Governor, or some of the great men, to 
redress these grievances. I received a letter from Mr. Edwards, dated March, which 
informs me that he has a law of New Hampshire which obliges the Baptists to pay their 
ministers, — that is, Presbyterian ministers, — and he is greatly afraid they will fall 
into the snare. Pray do your utmost to prevent the Baptists from taking the benefit of 
that law ; for the Presbyterians will triumph in that case. Mr. Rogers, the bearer, will 
give you information of my affairs, and other matters in these parts ; so that nothing 
remains but to desire you with Mrs. Smith to pay us a visit soon, to whom with yourself 
I give my sincere love, and remain, sir, 

Your very loving friend, 

James Manning. 

The following letter was the commencement of a correspondence 
with the Rev. John Ryland, of Northampton, England, a graduate of 
the Bristol Academy under the care of the celebrated Bernard Foskett, 
and for many years principal of a flourishing academy. Mr. Ryland 
was a distinguished scholar as well as a Baptist preacher, and was held 
in high esteem by Dr. Johnson and other eminent men of his time. 
He published "Contemplations on the Beauties of Creation," in three 
volumes octavo, "Essay on the Advancement of Learning," and various 
sermons and pamphlets. He died in 1792. 

Provedence, June 1, 1771. 
Reverend Sir: 

By the Rev. Morgan Edwards, last year, I was directed to draw upon you, the first 
of June, for five guineas, which you proposed to contribute annually to the support of 
the President of Rhode Island College during life, if your circumstances would admit 
of it. I drew accordingly in favor of Messrs. Joseph and "William Russell, merchants 
of Providence ; and, according to my instructions, have done the like this year, in favor 
of the same gentlemen. 

Your zeal for the welfare of this young Seminary, discovered in this as well as many 
other instances, has gained you the high esteem of all the true friends of the College 
here ; but the particular favor done me herein has laid me under the strongest obliga- 
tions of gratitude, of which I hope not to be unmindful, in any instance, when in my 
power to express a proper sense of them ; and at present I can only do this by the 
strongest expressions of thankfulness, and fervent prayer to God that he would 
abundantly reward your beneficence in this and in the life to come. 



172 BROWN UNIYEESITT Chap. IV. 

I was particularly obliged in your favoring me witli the patterns of the regular 
Greek and Latin nouns and verbs, etc., and find it the most easy method of leading 
boys into a general notion of grammar in a short time. The College in this place con- 
sists of twenty-three youths, five of whom are to leave us in the fall; though we hope 
to have some additions at that time. The Institution calls for the vigorous exertions of 
all its friends, as well on account of the smallness of its funds as the unreasonable 
opposition made against it by Pedobaptists ; especially the New England Presbyterians 
in general, who express the greatest bitterness on every occasion. The part I have had 
to act in the matter has exposed me to numberless difficulties hitherto ; although I am 
cheerful under the hopes of its rising, at some future period, to be the joy of its friends 
and the denomination, as well as the mortification of its ungenerous enemies. The 
state of religion in New England is at a low ebb in general, except in a few places, 
amongst which Mr. Stillman's of Boston is one, where there have been lately large 
additions to the church. Should there be any gentlemen of your acquaintance in Eng- 
land on whom diplomas might be well bestowed, we should always be glad to be 
advised thereof, and confer them accordingly. Forgive this unsolicited scrawl, and 
believe that it had its birth in the unfeigned gratitude and real friendship of, sir. 

Your humble servant, 

James Manning. 

To this letter Mr. Ryland thus replies : — 

To MY WORTHY FrIEND, Mk. JAMES MANNING, 

President of Ehode Island College: 

Reverend and Dear Sir: — I received your letter in due course by the post from 
London, and took care to pay your draft on me for £5 5s. when it came for payment, 
which it did in the beginning of December. Where it lodged all that time after you 
drew it, I know not. 

Be assured that I have the interests of your College deeply at my heart ; and in order 
to serve it I have picked out the enclosed list of scholars, for whom I solicit some of 
your academical feathers, to the end that we may attach as great a number of active 
and learned men to your Seminary as we can. Who knows but some of them may do 
you more service in the long run than we can at present imagine ? I am determined to 
send over some names every year as long as I live ; but be assured I shall not recom- 
mend one that shall be a dishonor to your College, if I know it. 

Have you had a short account of the ministers and churches of the Baptist denom- 
ination in England? If not I shall take care to send it. At present I would just 
observe that we have about two hundred and fourteen churches and ministers. About 
twenty-four ministers, perhaps twenty-six, can read the original languages in which 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 173 

the Bible was written. Amongst them I have a soni (John), nineteen years of age, 
who was called to the ministry last year. He read his Greek Testament into English 
all through before he was nine years old, and is very ready at Hebrew, Latin, and 
French. Grace called him at fourteen years of age. I baptized him when he was about 
fifteen, and we received him into the church. He proves a good, zealous boy, and the 
people of God love to hear him preach. He has ventured to publish a volume of poems 
on experimental religion, the whole edition of which, five hundred, has gone off in less 
than a year. If I can procure a copy, I will send you one for your public library. 
Perhaps it may be a stimulus to some lazy student on your side of the water. My 
opinion, I am persuaded, is the same with yours, "that young boys and students need 
all sorts of motives to keep them in a steady, regular, resolute pursuit of learning and 
religion," and for this purpose academical honors were wisely instituted ; and 'tis for 
this reason I desire for my brethren in the ministry who desire it the honors of your 
College, in order to incite others to the same diligence. I am sorry to say it, but 'tis 
too true, that above one hundred and seventy Baptist ministers in England have been 
kept from reading the Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament more by laziness and 
cowardice than by the difficulty of attaining it. I want to rouse these sluggards into 
diligence, and for that purpose I earnestly beg your assistance. 

N. B. Out of ten thousand clergy, we liave seventy or eighty that preach the 
gospel. The Presbyterians are almost all gone off to Socinianism. "We have a few in 
London that are excellent men ; namely. Dr. Langford, Dr. Trotter, Geo. Stephens, 
A. M., Mr. Hunter, and the Rev. Mr. Spilsbury. I cannot at present give you an exact 
list of our Independent ministers in London and the country, but shall try to send you 
an account. Let me be sure to hear from you four times a year ; that is to say, once 
every quarter. 

WORTHY MEN OF LEARNING AND CHARACTER WHO DESERVE THE HONORS OF RHODE 

ISLAND COLLEGE. 

I. Of the Established Church of England. 
These are f 1. Augustus Montague Toplady, A. B., Rector of Broad Hemburg, 
most excellent Devon. 

men as i 2. Henry Foster A. B., Curate to the Rev. Mr. Romaine. 

scholars 3. John Newton, Curate of Olney ; a man of uncommon wisdom, 

and divines. l- and a fine writer. 



1 This son, the Rev. Dr. John Ryland, received the honorary degree of A. M. at the Commence- 
ment in 1772. He assisted his father in the management of his school, and eventually became 
pastor of the Baptist Church in Northampton. In 1792 he became President of the Baptist College 
at Bristol. For upwards of thirty years he was the most eminent Baptist minister in the west of 
England. He died May 25, 1825. His funeral sermon, preached by Robert Hall, is regarded as one 
of the choicest specimens of pulpit eloquence in our literature. 



174 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

II. Independents. 

1. William Portek, minister in Camomile Street. 

2. John Stafford, successor to Dr. Guise. 

3. John Pte, minister at Sheffield, Yorkshire. 

4. William Hextall, successor to Dr. Doddridge, at Northampton. 

5. MosES Gregson, at Rowell, Northamptonshire. 

6. Joshua Symmonds, at Bedford. Preaches in John Bunyan's pulpit. 

7. Rev. James Jennings, at Islington, near London. 

8. Samuel Wilton, at Tooting, in Surrey. 

HI. Particular Baptists. 

1. Egbert Day, of Wellington, Somersetshire. 

2. John Brown, of Kettering, Northamptonshire. 

3. John Ash, of Pershore, Worcestershire. 

4. John Poynting, of Worcester. 

5. Benjamin Fuller, of Devizes, Wiltshire. (An old, rich, learned man, that can 

leave £100 to the college.) 

6. John Oulton, of Rawdon, in Yorkshire.^ 

The "bitterness of the New England Presbyterians in general" 
towards the College, and the " unreasonable opposition made against 
it by Pedobaptists," to which Manning in his letter to Ryland here 
alludes, are illustrated in the letter addressed to him by his friend 
Morgan Edwards, which is published in our concluding chapter on the 
Charter. The writer supposes the President to have expected the 
friendship and help of the Congregationalists had not the Baptists 
complained of oppressions and threatened to carry their complaints to 
the King. He adduces facts to show that their opposition was from the 
beginning, and not of recent origin. Mr. Edwards has been accused 
of undue warmth, but the reader must admit that a little severity of 
expression was justifiable under the circumstances. These ecclesiasti- 



iThe seventeen names mentioned in the above list all received the honorary degree of A. M. at 
the annual Commencement of the College in 1773 and in 1774. (See Triennial Catalogue.) It does 
not, however, appear that Mr. Ryland's good wishes in regard to the benefit which the College 
might thereby derive were ever realized, at least to any great extent. The unhappy feeling engen- 
dered by the War of the Revolution was, probably, the cause of this apparent neglect or indifference. 
The College, moreover, was closed from 1776 until 1782, and correspondence between the two 
countries ceased. 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 175 

cal oppressions and this sectarian bitterness towards the College were 
in keeping with the opposition and unfriendliness experienced by- 
Roger Williams and his free Colony in the early days. It is pleasant 
to note that all this has now passed away; — if recalled to remembrance 
throughout the pages of the present narrative, it is only in the spirit of 
kindness, "as impressive admonitions to the fuller exercise of that 
charity which beareth all things." As matters of history, they must 
of necessity appear conspicuous in any faithful account of Rhode Island 
College, or of the life and times of its first President. 

The following letter to the Rev. Dr. Stennett gives a pleasing 
account of Manning's feelings in view of the responsibility of his 
position as head of the College and pastor of the Church : — 

Providence, June 5, 1771. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Your most agreeable favor of Aug. 10th, 1770, came to hand the 19th of January, 1771, 
after our ships had sailed for London ; and consequently I have had no opportunity of 
acknowledging the receipt of it before. There are two ships from this town which 
make two voyages a year to London, besides others from tlie Colony, by which letters 
will have a safe conveyance. The captains' names are Shand and Gilbert. I mention 
this that there may be the most direct conveyance. 

I thank you for the expressions of kindness and respect in your letter, and am as 
desirous as before to keep up a correspondence as often as opportunity will admit. 
Mr. Gordon, the gentleman by whom you wrote, has never called on me, nor can I 
hear any direct account of him since his arrival in America. Your good wishes to the 
College are very acceptable, and we doubt not your readiness to contribute all in your 
power to its future growth and increase. The popularity, usefulness, etc., of our first 
sons, is to me an object truly desirable ; but these things I leave to the wise conduct 
of the supreme Governor of the Church. One of the youth,i graduated at our first 
Commencement, who is thought to be savingly brought home by grace, has joined Mr. 
Thurston's church in Newport, and appears eminently pious. As soon as his age will 
admit, for he is quite a youth, he will be called to the work of the ministry, with hopes 
of his making a distinguished figure in the pulpit. He bears the greatest resemblance 
to Mr. Hezekiah Smith of any person I know, and I hope will make such another son 
of thunder. I am constrained to think that Providence placed me at the head of the 



1 William Rogers. 



176 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

College; Taut for what end I cannot divine, I hope for good; for my ease and worldly- 
advantage it could not certainly be, for I have been constrained to forego these, and 
many more things desirable in life, on this account; and in the discharge of my oifice 
here I have found my way strewn with thorns hitherto. 

Dr. Llewelyn's friendship for the College is highly satisfactory to us. He has it in 
his power, and, we have reason to believe, in his heart, to do it great service. I should 
highly prize a correspondence with a gentleman of his merit, were a door properly open 
for it ; but to address him with a letter, uninvited, and without particular cause for so 
doing, might be deemed too great forwardness in me. I therefore choose to defer it at 
present. We were sensibly affected at the news of Mr. Roffey's death, as he promised 
usefulness to the public; but God can raise up men to carry on his own cause, in an 
unexpected way. The government is upon His shoulders ; therefore we ought to 
rejoice. But nothing gives one such satisfaction as the account you give me of the 
success of the Gospel in England. I firmly believe there are yet glorious days for the 
church militant, and that the doctrine of believer's baptism will prevail in proportion 
to the prevalence of the religion of the heart. I do not imagine this only from my own 
sentiments that it is an important and glorious ordinance of the Lord Jesus, but from 
facts ; for I have observed for some years past that in this country it has been invaria- 
bly the case where there has been a powerful moving of the Spirit of God upon the 
minds of men. I will give you a recent instance. God has been doing wonders in 
Virginia and North Carolina within these few years past. Thousands have been hope- 
fully converted to God in these two provinces ; and my Brother Gano, who travelled 
through these provinces last summer and fall, informs me that not less than two thou- 
sand have been baptized by immersion, upon profession of their faith. And it has been 
observed there, that persons were no sooner brought into the glorious liberty of the 
Gospel than they followed the example of their Divine Master by going down into the 
water; and that, too, where the name of Baptist was scarcely known. This work, I 
am told, still continues, and extends five hundred miles in length through the country. 
Truly, light has risen to those who were in the region and shadow of death ; for when 
I travelled through that country about ten years ago, I thought as Abraham did of 
Zoar, that the fear of God was not in that place. ^ To me it seemed to be the rendezvous 
of devils. But what cannot God do? This indeed is all my consolation when I view 
the unpromising appearance of religion in many places, — that God not only can, but 
will work, and none shall let or hinder it. 



1 As has already been stated. Manning spent the year succeeding his graduation travelling 
through the colonies, with a view, doubtless, of ascertaining the best place for a college, and on 
whom he covild rely for support. In going to South Carolina, where his friend Hart was settled, 
he would of course pass through Virginia, as he here states in his letter. 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 177 

There is a gradual increase of the work of religion in sundry places in New 
England. Mr. Smith, I am told, is still marvellously owned in his labors, and that he 
was lately called to administer baptism to numbers at a distance from where he 
resides, and to constitute two or three Baptist churches. I can say but little of my success 
in the vineyard of the Lord, although I hope there are some promising appearances of 
conviction amongst us. The last Lord's Day there appeared an uniisual solemnity in 
the assembly, and I trust God enabled me, though a worm, to speak with some happy 
degree of zeal and earnestness in warning souls of their danger ; and if flowing eyes 
may be thought a presage of the return of wanderers to God, I am not without hope of 
some seals of my ministry. But alas my unprofitableness ! — my unworthiness to be 
employed in so sacred a work ! If ever one soul is converted by my instrumentality, it 
will clearly appear that the excellency of the power is all of God. 

But I cease to trouble you with my unprofitable complaints, and proceed to give 
you some short account of the dispute between Baptists and Presbyterians in the 
provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and Connecticut; in the latter of 
of which, I am told, some of our brethren are now in jail for ministerial rates, and in 
the other two many are forcibly despoiled of their property for the same purpose. The 
Presbyterians, I believe, are determined, when they have the power, to use it against 
us to prevent our growth; for no effectual remedy can yet be obtained, though it has 
been carefully and industriously sought. They are afraid, if they relax the secular arm, 
their tenets have not merit enough and a sufiicient foundation to stand. This has 
been so plainly hinted by some of the committees of the General Court, upon treating 
with our people, that I think it cannot be deemed a breach of charity to think thus of 
them. However, I will not pretend to justify everything which has been said and 
done by Baptists during this controversy. I fear there has been too great warmth in 
some publications ; yet it is certain that there has been great provocation to write and 
speak some bitter things. However, I am far from believing that the cause of God 
requires acrimony in defending it, especially as the great Examjile of his people 
"reviled not again when he was reviled." Upon the whole, it is very uncertain what 
will be the issue of the matter, whether we must address the throne of our sovereign 
for relief, or not. The contention has been improved as an argument against sending 
scholars from that denomination to our College. How long this will continue I know 
not; but at present the clergy use all their endeavors to this purpose. 

I am glad to hear that there are three Baptists in the trust of Dr. Moore's fund, who 
will see that the money is appropriated according to the original proposal ; for our 
brethren of that denomination need good looking after in these matters, if we may 
judge from what has happened before. 

I suppose you have heard that Dr. Wheelock has obtained a charter for a college in 
23 



178 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

the province of New Hampshire, and about twenty thousand acres of land as an endow- 
ment from the Governor, and other gentlemen who are largely concerned in lands 
there. He has begun his business, and carried it forward with great rapidity. In 
short, from what I can gather, it is to be a grand Presbyterian college, instead of a 
school for the poor Indians. There were but two Indians there at school last fall, and 
they were Narragansetts from this Colony, brought up like us. Moreover, it is more 
than a hundred miles distant from any number of Indians. I have conversed with 
two intelligent gentlemen from that part of the country, and, from what I can gather, 
the money raised in England by Whitaker and Oakam will be as greatly prostituted as 
ever the fund for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts has been by another denom- 
ination of Christians. 

As to political matters, all is peace and quietness with us, though we hear that the 
city of London and the House of Commons have proceeded to great lengths in oppos- 
ing one another, and that the Lord Mayor and Alderman Oliver are committed to the 
Tower. "We are anxious for the result of this procedure ; but hope that God will order 
all matters for the best, and bring good out of evil. 

We now proceed slowly with the College, as our succors from abroad fail. I hope 
we may have some more assistance from Great Britain as soon as may be. 

If your patience is not quite gone, permit me to request the favor of a letter by our 
vessels this summer, in which you need not fear trespassing upon my patience, though 
I have reason to fear I have upon yours, and therefore subscribe, what I am in truth, 

dear sir, „ ^ ^ , , . , ^ , 

Your very affectionate friend and brother m the Lord, 

Jambs Manning. 

The reader who has followed the narrative thus far, will readily see 
that Manning, as President of the infant College, had been exposed, 
as he states in his previous letter to Ryland, "to numberless difficulties 
hitherto "; and that it was not for his "ease and worldly advantage " 
that "Providence had placed him at the head." He had "been con- 
strained," as he here writes to Stennett, "to forego these, and many 
more things desirable in life, on this account ; and in the discharge of 
the duties of his office he had found his way strewn with thorns hith- 
erto." The obtaining of the charter in the outset was a struggle 
against determined opposition ; the settlement of the vexed question of 
final location caused bitterness of feeling and alienation on the part of 
some who should have been his friends, which alienation was continued 



1770-1771. AND MANNING. 179 

during his lifetime ; the church in Warren never fully forgave him for 
leaving it to go with the College to Providence ; his relations with the 
church in Providence, as we shall see in our next chapter, caused in the 
outset a division, and led to the establishment of a new Six Principle 
church in Johnston ; and the College itself was persistently and bitterly 
opposed by the " Standing Order " in the adjoining States of Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut. Moreover, his salary from the Latin school 
the College and the church combined, was meagre and insufficient for 
a generous support. Yet he faltered not in his work, and persevered 
bravely to the end. 

The third Commencement of the College, and the second held in 
Providence, occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1771. Among the Fel- 
lows present were Smith from Haverhill, Stillman from Boston, and 
Edwards from Philadelphia. It was at this time that Mr. Edwards, 
accompanied by Moses Brown, visited the elderly people of the town, 
and obtained information respecting Roger Williams and the Baptist 
Church, which he has embodied in his " Materials." Mr. Smith came, 
as was his usual custom, in his chaise, accompanied by his wife, to 
whom he had been recently married. The following from his diary 
may be of interest in connection with this Commencement week : — 

"Wed., Aug. 28, 1771. Went to Nicholas Brown's in Providence. Lodged two nights 
there. Fri., 30. "Went to Job Bennet's in Newport, where we stayed till Moiiday. 
Sat., 31. Preached for Mr. Maxson from John 18:36, and in the evening from John 
13:11 in Mr. Thurston's meeting-house. Sab., Sept. 1. Preached for Mr. Thurston 
from Isa. 44:22. Mon., 2. Went to Warren and preached that evening in Mr. Thomp- 
son's pulpit, from 2 Cor. 5:19. Tues., 3. Went to Nicholas Brown's in Providence. 
Wed., 4. Attended Commencement. Thurs., 5. Met with the Corporation. Preached 
in the evening, from Rom. 3:25. Fri., 6, Sat., 7. At Providence. Sab., 8. Preached 
in the forenoon at Mr. Snow's meeting-house, from 2 Cor. 5: 19, and in the afternoon at 
Mr. Manning's meeting-house, from Ps. 19: 14. Mon., Sept. 9. Set out for Sutton. 

At this Commencement six young men took their Bachelor's degree. 
Thomas Arnold, who heads the list, became a distinguished lawyer of 
Providence and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was also a 
Fellow of the College, and Secretary of the Corporation. Thomas 



180 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

Ustick became a prominent teacher and preacher, being for twenty 
years pastor of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Samuel 
Ward, a son of the Hon. Samuel Ward, served with distinction in the 
Revolutionary War as Major in the First Rhode Island Regiment, and 
afterwards as Lieutenant-Colonel. At the close of the war he settled 
in New York, and became a prosperous merchant. From 1790 to 1800 
he was a Trustee of the College. 

From the account of this Commencement in the Providence Grazette, 
we present an abstract from the President's address : — 

A concise, pertinent charge was then delivered to the graduates by the President, in 
which, besides many useful instructions and cautions, he remarked that this Institu- 
tion, though liberal and catholic in its foundation and government, despising the 
contracted views of a party, aiming at the good of mankind in general, and always 
studious to maintain a good agreement and harmony with others of the like nature, 
had not been so happy as to pass altogether without censure ; and that not only from 
the ignorant and i^edantic, but even from some of those whose frienship it has sought, 
and would highly esteem, could it consistently be obtained. He concluded by request- 
ing their friendship and kind offices to that Seminary of learning in which they had 
received their education ; and with great energy exhorted them that if they could not, 
by their joint testimony of the generous, free, and impartial manner in which they had 
been treated in the course of their studies, silence the unreasonable clamors of igno- 
rance and enmity, to give the wbrld the same kind of proof of the usefulness of the 
Institution which some of its first sons now do, who fill public stations with honor to 
themselves and advantage to mankind. 

One of the " first sons" to whom Manning here alludes was the 
valedictorian, Thompson, who was now preaching in Warren as his 
successor in the ministry. Varnum, who had been teaching in East 
Greenwich, was now practising his profession as a lawyer. Stites was 
a lawyer in New Jersey, Williams was teaching in Warren, and Rogers 
was teaching and preaching in Newport. It is worthy of note that the 
President in a public baccalaureate address, speaks of the College as 
" liberal and catholic, aiming at the good of mankind in general," and 
appeals to the graduating class to silence if possible the "unreasonable 
clamors of ignorance and enmity," and to testify to "the generous, 
free and impartial manner in which they had been treated." 



1770-1772. AND MANNING. 181 

The following letter, addressed to Thomas Llewelyn, LL.D., presents 
an idea of the condition and prospects of the College, and especially of 
the Library, at this time. It affords an illustration of the author's skill 
in urging the claims of the Institution over which he presided, upon 
the attention of strangers of reputed benevolence and wealth. Mr. 
Llewelyn was a distinguished Cambro- British scholar of London. He 
published, in 1768, a History of the Welsh Versions of the Bible, and, in 
the following year, " Historical and Critical Remarks on the British 
Tongue." He died on the 7th of August, 1783, bequeathing to the 
Bristol Academy, where he pursued his early studies, his large and 
valuable library.^ Dr. Gibbons was accustomed, says Rippon, to speak 
of him "as the first scholar amona* the Protestant Dissenters." 



Providence, Feb. 21, 1772. 
Dear Sir : 

I am emboldened to address you, both from the recommendation of Dr. Stennett to 
do so, and from my knowledge of your friendship to the College in this town, of which 
yon would doubtless be glad to know the state. 

The College edifice is erected on a most beautiful eminence, in the neigborhood of 
Providence, commanding a most charming and variegated prosjiect ; a large, neat brick 
building, and so far completed as to receive the students, who now reside there, the 
number of whom is twenty-two. "We have the prospect of further additions ; yet our 
numbers will probably be small until we are better furnished with a library and philo- 
sophical apparatus. At present we have but about two hundred and fifty volumes, and 
these not well chosen, being such as our friends could best spare. Our apparatus 
consists of a pair of globes, two microscopes, and an electrical machine ; to this we are 
desirous of making the addition of an air pump, if one respectable can be purchased for 
£22 10s. sterling; a sum which two young men informed me they intended to give 
towards an apparatus or the Library. If, therefore, it would not be too much trouble to 
inform me whether or not that sum is sufficient, I shall receive it as a particular favor ; 
for if not, we shall appropriate it to some other use. 

Our whole College fund consists of about £900 sterling, being the whole sum collected 



1 In the second volume of Rippon's Baptist Annual Register, is a history of the Bristol Academy, 
to ■which is appended a copy of the table of benefactors in the Museum belonging to the Bristol 
Education Society. Under date 1784, we find the following : — " Thomas Llewelyn, Esq., LL.D., 
London (a legacy), consisting of his library, which cost more than £1,500 " sterling. 



182 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

abroad ; for no money collected without the colonies is made use of in the building, but 
solely applied in endowing it, with the strictest regard to the donors' intent. The 
interest of this sum is quite insufficient to provide for tuition, as two of us are now 
employed, and we stand in need of further help. May we not expect some further 
assistance from our friends in England ? Or must we conclude that the Baptists only 
are inattentive to their own cause, while seminaries of other denominations have the 
highest reason to extol their generosity ? Or is it because we use less industry to promote 
our common cause than others ? If so, what might another personal application to 
England do on this head, could we find a person among us, of public spirit, who could 
forego the mortification of a beggar, etc. ? Mr. Edwards happened in England at a 
most unfavorable juncture, or we should have expected far better success. If you 
imagine anything considerable can be done, we shall strive hard to obtain some person 
for this purpose ; if not, permit me to solicit your interest, where you may be able to 
serve the cause. We have had the earliest proofs of your regard for the infant College, 
and retain a grateful sense of your unsought favors. 

I shall take pleasure in communicating any intelligence in my power, whenever you 
please to lay your commands. My present situation is such as will furnish me with a 
general acquaintance with the state of the Baptist society in America, especially as I 
have travelled through the greater part, and hold correspondence with some in almost 
all the provinces. 

The ship by which this comes is bound directly back to Providence; and being 
owned by a zealous friend of the College, any books, or other things, should there be 
anything to send from any of our friends, would not only come directly, but free from 
the expense which might otherwise attend them. 

The jealous eye with which other denominations of Christians behold this infant 
Seminary, leaves us without hope of any assistance from any but Baptists ;i and I think 
if we could but unite, and the whole body lend a helping hand, we should be able, with- 
out great difficulty, to rear the tender plant to a degree of maturity which might greatly 
subserve the cause of religion, especially in our society. 

Craving your indulgence for giving you this interruption, and sincerely wishing you 
every felicity in this and a future world, I remain, dear sir. 

Your unworthy brother and servant in the gospel, 

James Manning. 



1 The candid reader of all histories of the times in which Manning lived, as well as the pages of 
Backus, the diary and letters of Hezekiah Smith, and the minutes of the Warreu Association, will 
readily see why even so liberal an institution as the College, was looked upon generally with 
disfavor by those who were outside of the Baptist denomination. 



1770-1772. AND MANNING. 183 

The following letter from Nicholas Brown to Hezekiah Smith will 
be read with interest, not only because of the expression of his views 
and. feelings in regard to his own religious state, but because of his 
allusion to the efforts of the enemies of the College to prevent students 
from entering it. The letter is preserved among the Smith papers : — 

Providence, March 30, 1772. 
Keverekd Sir: 

This may serve to acquaint you and Mrs. Smith that we have not forgotten you. 
"We have received none of your favors since 28th September, by Mr. Manning ; yet we 
have no excuse for not writing to you before, except that of not having any particulars 
worthy your notice. Mr. Binney,^ a worthy, humble, and meek young Christian, 
having been the evening with us, I engaged to forward these to you from Boston, as he 
is now going home the ensuing vacation. His conversation upon Christianity is 
really entertaining, and we sincerely wish, while we can say that we take knowledge 
of him that he has " been with Jesus," that the same might be said of ourselves. This 
knowledge we are still waiting for. I hope, in the day of God's power, it will be made 
manifest in us ; and I take this opportunity of requesting your fervent prayers that 
God will remove from us the veil of ignorance and unbelief, and that Christ in his 
fulness may be savingly applied to our souls through faith, which we believe to be the 
gift of God, as saith the Scriptures. It is a very dull time in religion here, though we 
have to rejoice that God has not left himself wholly without a witness. We are 
informed that in Swansea, among the Baptists in Messrs. Mason's and Martin's soci- 
eties, upwards of forty have been baptized since January came in. Some additions 
have been made to the Baptist churches in Newport. We have heard from Philadel- 
phia that Rogers was much liked there, and that his preaching has been blessed. Mr. 
Edwards has gone to Carolina. I hope he may be able to promote the collection of 
your subscriptions got there, as they are much needed. There is nothing new here 
about the College. The lower rooms have been finished, so that the scholars have 
lived in them this winter. The enemies to the Institution are doing what mischief 
they can, by discouraging scholars from coming here, which fact ought to stir up 
every friend to exert himself to the utmost. Should be glad to hear of some boys 
coming here from your quarter. Mr. President is well, but his wife is poorly, with 
her old complaints. Pray let us hear of your welfare by every opportunity. 

Your most respectful and obedient servant, 
Nicholas Brown. 

* Barnabas Binney, who graduated in 1774. 



184 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

And now occurred an event known in history as the affair of the 
Graspee, which, from its boldness and the high character of its actors, — 
including the leader, John Brown, who laid the corner-stone of the 
College edifice and superintended the building, — attracted wide atten- 
tion. As a part of the history of Manning and the College, we have 
compiled from Staples, Lossing, Arnold, and other writers, the follow- 
ing brief account. To the late Hon. John Brown Francis, grandson 
of the principal actor, we are indebted for some particulars of this 
memorable transaction not found in the published narratives. 

In March, 1772, the G-aspee, a British armed schooner, first appeared 
in the waters of Narragansett Bay, having been dispatched hither by 
the Commissioners of Customs at Boston to prevent infractions of the 
revenue laws. Her appearance disquieted the people, and her inter- 
ference with the free navigation of the Bay irritated them. Thereupon 
a spirited correspondence ensued, between Deputy Governor Sessions 
and Governor Wanton on the one hand, and Lieutenant Duddingston 
and Admiral Montague on the other. On the 9th of June, 1772, Cap- 
tain Lindsey left Newport for Providence in his packet, the Hannah. 
The G-aspee as usual gave chase, but ran aground on Namquit, since 
called Gaspee Point, below Pawtuxet ; the Hannah escaped, arriving 
safely at Providence about sunset, (vaptain Lindsey at once com- 
municated the fact of the grounding of the G-aspee to Mr. Brown, who 
thought this a good opportunity to put an end to the vexations caused 
by her presence. He immediately ordered the preparation of eight of 
the largest long-boats in the harbor, to be placed under the general 
command of Capt. Abraham Whipple, afterwards commodore, who was 
one of his most trusty shipmasters. Information of the enemy's situation 
was proclaimed by beat of drum ; and a man named Daniel Pearce 
passing along Main Street invited such of the inhabitants as were willing 
to engage m a perilous enterprise for the destruction of the Gaspee, to 
meet at the house of James Sabin, lately the residence of Richard J. 
Arnold, Esq. The boats left Providence between ten and eleven 
o'clock, filled with sixty-four well-armed men, and between one and 
two in the morning they reached the Gaspee. Two shots were 



1770-1772. AND MANNING. 185 

exchanged, one of which wounded Lieutenant Duddingston in the 
groin. This was the first British blood shed in the War of Inde- 
pendence. The schooner was now boarded without much opposition, 
and the crew and officers were compelled to leave with their effects, 
when it was set on fire and blown up. Mr. Brown was the last man 
to leave the deck, being determined that no one should carry from the 
vessel anything which might lead to the identification and detection 
of the parties. By so doing he narrowly escaped with his life, in con- 
sequence of the falling timbers and spars. 

When the news of this daring feat reached England, the King's 
proclamation was issued, offering a reward of one thousand jjounds 
sterling for the arrest and conviction of the two leaders of the affair, 
and five hundred pounds each for any other of the offenders, with a 
free pardon, in addition, to any one concerned, except the two chiefs, 
who would implicate the rest. A commission of inquiry, under the 
great seal of England, was established, which sat from the 4th until 
the 22d of January, 1773. It then adjourned until the 26th of May, 
when it assembled and sat until the 23d of June. But not a solitary 
clew to the identity of the perpetrators of the deed could be obtained, 
notwithstanding they were well known to the people. The price of 
treachery on the part of any accomplice would have been exile from 
home and country ; and the proffered reward was not adequate to such 
a sacrifice. Moreover, those whose weak moral principles or strong 
acquisitiveness might have tempted them into a coiupliance with the 
terms of the proclamation, were bribed, it is said, to silence, by Mr. 
Brown and some of his associates. The principal actors, besides Mr. 
Brown, were Capt. Abraham Whipple, Jolin B. Hopkins, Benjamin 
Dunn, Doct. John Mawney, Benjamin Page, Joseph Bucklin, Turpin 
Smith, Ephraim Bowen, and Capt. Joseph Tillinghast. Mr. Brown, 
says Governor Francis, afterwards deeply regretted this affair, so fool- 
hardy in itself, and resulting in so much needless apprehension to him- 
self and family. For a long time he was accustomed to sleep away 
from home, lest he should be arrested during the night. The first 
booming of the guns at Lexington and Concord filled his mind with 

24 



186 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IV. 

gladness. He was a stranger himself to fear, but lie rejoiced when the 
anxieties and fears of others were merged in the open contest now 
commenced. History has given to the leader in this Rhode Island 
enterprise the fame which he so richly deserves. 

Notwithstanding these disturbances, the President continued his cor- 
respondence with his English brethren, and addressed the following 
letter to his friend Ryland. He had reason to know, as subsequent 
events proved, that among the Dissenters in England the Baptists 
especially were friendly to America, and heartily sympathized with the 
Americans in their seven years' contest with British power. This we 
shall see later on. 



To THE Rev. John Ryland. 

Providence, May 19, 1772. 



Reverend and Dear Sir: 



On the 5tli ult. I received your letter, as I judged from the contents, for it had 
neither your name nor any date to it. The contents gave me very great ijleasure on 
various accounts, — as a testimony of your regard for me, the College, and the cause 
of religion in general, and especially for the zeal you discover in promoting the 
Baptist interests. The list of names you sent me shall be laid before the Faculty next 
September, and without doubt they vs^ill receive the honors of the College. We shall 
also be obliged to you for your proposed favor of sending us some names every year, 
and such, too, as are vyorthy of honor. I saw a paragraph in a letter to Rev. Isaac 
Backus, from Rev. Benjamin Wallin, of London, in which he intimated we had con- 
ferred degrees on some on your side of the water who would not do us honor. I shall 
therefore rely on you to pay particular regard to the literary qualifications of those 
whom you recommend, in order that our enemies may not have it in their power to 
reproach us on this head. I thank you for the hint given me concerning the number 
of our ministers and churches in Britain, and your offer of sending me a short account 
■of them, which I have not seen. If there should be more than one on hand, it would 
gratify some of our friends if I could supply them. The present of the volume of 
poems will be very acceptable. Please to give my cordial love to the author, of whom 
I shall be mindful amongst others who deserve the honors of the College. I hope you 
will be happy in seeing him not only a faithful but successful laborer in Christ's vine- 
yard. You may assure yourself that I will contribute all in my power to assist in 
"rousing the sluggards," etc. If the Presbyterians have let go the faith, I hope it is 
to promote the primitive ordinances of the Gospel under the direction of a wise 



1770-1772. AND MANNING. 187 

Providence. I think tliis has been and now is the case in New England; for many 
of the good jieople are following Christ into the water, who before quieted their 
consciences by the example of the fathers now with God ; but they cannot find the same 
reason when they view the clergy of the present age. In short, if you hear of a work 
of God's Spirit among the Presbyterians of New England, you will soon hear that a 
Baptist minister is applied to to baptize them. God has been and is still doing marvel- 
lous things, in the outpouring of his Spirit on some of our churches ; especially in 
Boston, Dighton, Rehoboth, Swansea, in the Bay Government, and in Warren, of this 
Colony, under the ministry of Mr. Charles Thompson, one of the first class that grad- 
uated at this College. I am told that near three hundred have been baptized in these 
places since last September. Mr. William Rogers, a member also of the same class, 
about twenty-one years of age, has been called to the ministry, and is preaching in 
Philadelphia, where God appears to own his labors to admiration. He is a pious, warm 
Christian, and a very popular preacher in that city. All these things encourage me to 
believe that God regards this College with a favorable eye ; especially as I have reason 
to hope that he has called by grace some who are now in College, since they came 
here, while others appear to be hopefully anxious about their salvation. 

I shall make free to draw on you again the 1st of June, by Mr. Edwards's instruc- 
tion, and continue to do so yearly until you forbid me. What think you of an applica- 
tion to England, by some suitable i^erson, in order to augment our little and insufficient 
fund, as Mr. Edwards made but a partial application ; or would a well-concerted 
scheme of a lottery * to raise £1,000 or £2,000 sterling meet with encouragement by the 
sale of tickets in England? Some method must be adopted, unless some generous, able 
benefactors should arise to assist us. I shall write frequently and long ; and if you will 
do the same to me, you will greatly oblige. 

Yours, etc., 

James Manning. 

From the following notice, which was published in the Providence 
Gazette, it appears that President Manning still retained charge of the 

^ Suggested perhaps by Mr. Manning's familiarity with the history of the College of New Jersey, 
the funds of which institution had been increased by lotteries which the legislatures of Connecti- 
cut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey had granted for this purpose. Harvard and Yale Colleges, it 
may be added, were also aided by lotteries, the former even as recently as the year 1808. To show 
how common were lotteries in Rhode Island at this time, it may be stated, that, in the space of 
twenty-seven years, from 1752 to 1779, no less than tifty-four were granted by the General Assembly 
for the building of churches, parsonages, school-houses, bridges, streets, wharves, etc., as we find 
by looking over the " Colonial Records." See account of lotteries on page 72. 

For a very interesting account of lotteries in behalf of the Rev. Dr. Hopkins's church in New- 
port, the reader is referred to Professor Park's Memoir of the Life and Character of Dr. Hopkins 
pp. 113, 114. 



188 BEOWN" UNIVERSITY Chap, IV. 

Latin school, it being without doubt the same which he commenced at 
Warren eight years previous to this date. Thus, in addition to his 
labors as Pastor of the church and President of the College, he was 
engaged in teaching lads, directly or otherwise, the elements of 
knowledge, and in furnishing them, as also the College students, with 
school books, "at the lowest rate." 

Whereas several gentlemen have requested me to take and educate their sons, this 
may inform them, and others disposed to put their children under my care, that the 
Latin school^ is now removed, and set up in the College edifice ; where proper attention 
shall be given, by a master duly qualified, and those found to be the most eifectual 
methods to obtain a comjpetent knowledge of grammar, steadily pursued. At the same 
time, spelling, reading, and sj)eaking English with propriety will be particularly 
attended to. Any who choose their sons should board in commons, may be accommo- 
dated at the same rate with the students, — six shillings per week being the price. 
And I flatter myself that such attention will be paid to their learning and morals as will 
entirely satisfy all who may send their children. All books for the school, as well as the 
classical authors read in College, may be had, at the lowest rate, of the subscriber. 

James Manning. 
Providence, July 10, 1772. 

Another Commencement was now at hand. The following from 
Smith's diary will be read with interest : — 

Mon., Aug. 31, 1772. Set out for my journey to New Jersey. Got the first night to 
Ames's in Dedham. Tues., Sept. 1. Got to my good friend's Nicholas Brown in Provi- 
dence, where I stayed till the Monday following. Attended the Commencement on 
Wednesday. Thursday met with the Corporation of the College. Friday 4, and Satur- 
day 5. Among my friends. Sab., 6. Preached in the forenoon in Mr. Manning's 



1 Where the Latin school was kept previous to this date we cannot positively state ; it is, how- 
ever, more than probable tliat it was in one of the chambers of the brick school-house on Meeting 
street. The other chamber, as has already been stated was occupied by the officers and students 
of the College. This school-house, as appears from Staples's Annals of Providence, was built 
during the year 1768, partly by the town, and partly by subscription. By this compound arrange- 
ment the town owned the lower story, while the upper story was owned by the subscribers, among 
whom the friends and guardians of the College were largely represented. As we have remarked in 
a previous chapter, this school, commenced by Manning at Warren in 1764, was for a long time con- 
nected with the College or University. In 1810 the corporation erected a brick building for its 
accommodation, at an expense of fifteen hundred dollars. 



1770-1772. AND MANNING. 189 

meeting-house in Providence, from Prov. 1: 29, and in the afternoon from Luke 16: 31, 
in Mr. Snow's meeting-house. In the evening preached in the Baptist meeting-house at 
the Mills, which is about eleven miles from Providence, from Phil. 1: 21. Mon., 7. Set 
out from Nath'l. Green's in Coventry, where I lodged, and got that day to Obadiah 
Stark's in Colchester, where we lodged, viz. : David Howell and myself, who is going 
with me to the Jerseys. Tues., 8. Went through Haddam, Durham, and to Walling- 
ford, where we lodged at Mr. Johnson's, the tavern keeper. Wednes., 9. Attended 
Commencement in New Haven, when and where we had Master's degrees conferred 
upon us by President Daggett. 

The Providence, Grazette gives the following account of this Com- 
mencement : — 

Providence, Sept. 5, 1772. 

On Wednesday, the 2d instant, was celebrated the anniversary Commencement of 
the College in this town. The gentlemen concerned in the business of the day, walked 
from the College Hall to the Rev. Joseph Snow's meeting-house. After prayer by the 
President, a Salutatory oration was pronounced, in Latin, by Mr. Russell ; next the 
Intermediate oration, by Mr. Howell, upon History, and then a Soliloquy by Mr. 
Appleton, on Solitude; which was succeeded by an oration on Agriculture, and the 
Pleasures of a Country Life, by Mr. Harris; and an oration, the subject, Pride, by Mr. 
Greene, concluded the exercises of the forenoon. 

Mr. Varnum, one of the candidates for a Master's degree, first spoke in the afternoon, 
upon the Origin, Nature, and Design of Civil Government. Then followed a Latin 
Exegesis, by Mr. Howell, in sujiport of this Thesis : — " Miracula extitisse humano testi- 
monio probari potest;" which was opposed by Messrs. Appleton, Greene, and David. 
Next, Mr. Stites, another candidate for a Master's degree, spoke an oration, the topic. 
Female Education : — After which the following young gentlemen were admitted to the 
degree of A. B., viz.: Joseph Appleton, Ebenezer David, Benjamin Greene, Joseph. 
Harris, Elias Howell, and Joseph Dolbeare Russell. 

Ad eundem, Jonathan Williams, of Harvard College. To the degree of A. M., were 
admitted Joseph Eaton, William Rogers, Richard Stites, Charles Thompson, James 
Mitchel Varnum, and William Williams. Ad eundem, the Rev. Erasmus Kelly, of 
Philadelphia College ; and the Rev. John Ryland, Jr., of Northampton, in England, to 
the honorary degree of A. M. 

After the degrees were conferred, Mr. David pronounced the Valedictory oration, 
upon the Incomparable Advantages of Religion. The President then gave the Bachelors 
a charge, with great solemnity, and concluded with prayer. 

During the exercises, a profound attention was given by a sensible, crowded, and 
polite assembly. The candor and satisfaction which appeared in every countenance, 



190 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IV. 

animated the yoitng performers emulously to contend for that universal applause 
which they had the honor to receive. 

Concerning the members of this graduating class but little is now 
known. Appleton was from Ipswich, Massachusetts. He became a 
clergyman, and died in 1795. Greene was from Bristol; he died in 
1824. Harris was from Smithfield ; he died in 1823. Howell was 
from Egg Harbor, New Jersey, being a relative of Hon. Judge Howell. 
Russell was from Providence. His father, Joseph Dolbeare Russell, 
appears under date of Newport, May, 1771, as a donor of books to the 
College Library. David, the valedictorian, was from Philadelphia. 
While a student in college, he was converted. After graduating he 
lived in Newport where he joined the Seventh Day Baptist church, and 
the year following he was ordained as a minister of that faith and order. 
During the war he was a Chaplain in the American Army, and was 
highly esteemed for his talents, piety, and zeal. He died in Pennsyl- 
vania while in the service, on the 19th of March, 1778. 

At the meeting of the Corporation, which was fully attended, it was 

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Corporation that some suitable application be 
made to Great Britain for further assistance for this Institution. 

Voted, That the Honorable the Chancellor, Honorable Darius Sessions, the Reverend 
President, Doct. Jabez Bowen, and Mr. Nicholas Brown, be a committee to consider 
who may be a proper person to solicit donations in Europe ; and if the Reverend Presi- 
dent should be thought most suitable for the purpose, then to consider by whom the 
place of President may be supplied during his absence, and to consvilt such person 
upon the affair, and to lay their proceedings before the Corporation at their adjourn- 
ment. 

The need of funds must indeed have been urgent to have suggested 
the temporary absence in England of the head of the College, and the 
Pastor of the church at this juncture of affairs. 

The following letter, addressed to the Rev. John Ryland, gives an 
account of the greatest donation the Library had at that time received ; 
namely, the works of the Rev. Dr. John Gill, the distinguished com- 
mentator, and lifty-two folio volumes of the Fathers, presented through 



1770-1772. AND MANNING. 191 

Dr. Gill's executors. From this letter we learn that Manning was now 
receiving from the College a salary of £61 13s. 6d. The Corporation, 
it will be remembered, at the special meeting held in Warren, April 2, 
1770, voted him a salary of ,£100 lawful money. The church in Provi- 
dence also voted him a salary of <£50 ; thus making a total of $500. In 
addition to this he had the use of the " President's House," which was 
built in connection with the College edifice, and also what he could 
realize from his "Latin School." 

Providence, Nov. 12, 1772. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

I have not received an answer to mine of May 19th, 1772, yet am not vrilling to let 
this opportunity pass vp^ithout a line. The Faculty conferred the degree of A. M., at 
our last Commencement on your son, the Rev. John Ryland, Jun. ; but through my 
hurry, and absence from home since Commencement, I have not got his diploma 
written, and must therefore omit sending it until my next. Those other gentlemen 
you mentioned did not receive their degrees ; the Faculty chose to know whether they 
have been consulted personally, and wish to receive the honors of our College ; other- 
wise it might do us hurt instead of service. "What suggested this reflection, in part, 
was a paragraph in a letter from Mr. Wallin of London to Mr. Backus, which I saw, in 
which he seemed to insinuate that we had been too lavish of our honors. If these 
gentlemen would accept diplomas from us, we should give them with pleasure ; but we 
do not choose to give them to those who would not thank us for them, as I think has 
been the case with some even on your side of the water. 

With this I send you a catalogue^ of those who have received the honors of the 
College from the first. Our last Commencement, I believe, acquired us considerable 
reputation amongst the literati in New England ; and had we not to combat with the 
inveterate enmity of the New England clergy, it would have added to the number of 
our scholars ; but they take unwearied pains to prevent any from coming if possible, 
and do not stick at the method of carrying their points ; but, thank God, they don't 
govern the world. 

Last month I returned from a journey through the western provinces, as far as 
Philadelphia. I found religion at an ebb in those churches in general, as- is the case 
through the most of New England. Virginia is still in a flame, and hundreds are 
hopefully turning to God. I attended the Association at New York, and we had a very 
comfortable season. I herewith send you an Association letter. 



1 This was the first " triennial catalogue," to which Dr. Stiles alludes in his diary. No copy of 
it, to the writer's knowledge, has been preserved. 



192 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. 

I should be glad to know in what sense you give the five guineas which I have been 
directed to call upon you for annually. The reason is this : I have always rendered 
an account of it to the Corporation as a part of my salary from the College, which is 
£67 13s. 4d. sterling, annually, and some of the members have found fault with me for 
so doing, alleging that, as my salary is inadequate, I ought to consider it as a free gift, 
or so much over the above sum; but this I would by no means do without an explicit 
account of your intention in the donation, according to which I shall be governed, and 
therefore I pray you to resolve me in this matter. 

By the last ship we received the works of the great and good Dr. Gill, with fifty-two 
folio volumes of the Fathers, etc., the gift of Messrs. George Keith and John Gill, the 
Doctor's executors. This is by far the greatest donation our little Library has yet had ; 
but I hope their generous example will be followed by others on your side of the 
Atlantic. Do you think it would be worth while for an American Indian, as we are 
generally deemed, to visit England, on the errand of collecting some more money for 
our College? For we really need it. I have been mentioned, if my place in the 
interim could be supplied, for this purpose, provided the prospect promised anything 
worth while. ^ But the inattention of the Baptists to their own interests disheartens 
me greatly. 

I have written two letters to Dr. Stennett since I have had an answer, and I am 
afraid I have tired that good man with my nonsense, and that my letters have been 
mislaid or intercepted. Pray, have you heard of the Doctor's being addressed by 
Dr. Chauncey, of Boston, with a design to alienate him from the cause of the New 
England Baptists, by sending him reproachful accounts of them? I was told by one 
of our brethren this was suspected to be the case, from some extraordinary steps taken 
by that society. If that should be the case I should be glad to know ; and if you are 
intimate with the Doctor, you may probably know through him. A minister of repu- 
tation gave me this hint but a few days past, or I would not have mentioned it, 
supposing them incapable of so low an artifice. I am told another^ of my first class is 
to preach on trial next Lord's Day, which will make three of that class in the ministry. 

With great respect, I am, sir, yours to serve, 

James Manning. 

The President again alludes to ' ' the inveterate enmity of the New 
England clergy" towards the College, who, he states, took " unwearied 



1 The President here refers to the vote of the Corporation passed at the recent meeting in 
September. 

2 William Williams, now teaching at Warren. 



1770-1772. AND MANNING. 193 

pains to prevent scholars " from entering the Institution, and did not 
" stick at the method for carrying their points." But, he adds in right- 
eous indignation, " Thank God, they don't govern the world." 
The following is another letter to the Rev. Dr. Stennett : — 

Providence, Nov. 13, 1772. 
Reverend and Dear Sir : 

As I have sent two or three letters since receiving one from you, I should not now 
write, as I have nothing of importance to communicate, had not the Rev. Isaac Backus, 
of Middleborough, requested me, on the following account: He has been up to Ashfield 
not long since, and found that the Congregational clergy there, as well as elsewhere, 
have been very busy in collecting all the scandalous reports they can hear of; and as 
they think, from some circumstances, sending them to Dr. Chauncey, of Boston, in 
order to transmit the same to you, to prevent you from interesting yourself in their 
cause. I confess this is a suggestion which would seem to flow from a bad heart, desti- 
tute of charity, to a person who is acquainted only with the fair side of their character, 
but to those who are conversant with them in New England, that they should conceive 
such a design is far from being a thing incredible. Now if this is the case, I have author- 
ity from Mr. Backus, a man of unblemished reputation, to inform you that, so far as he 
could judge, from being on the spot and viewing the lands, etc., wrested from those 
poor Baptists, he verily thought their complaints were lighter than their grievances, 
and that their sufferings have been extremely great. And as Mr. Backus is appointed 
by the body of the Baptists in New England to collect materials for their history, he 
prays and doubts not but you will, through my hands, favor him with intelligence 
respecting this matter, by the first opportunity, that he may have it in his power to 
undeceive you if they have sent you these accounts. 

The state of the College is much the same as when I wrote last, as to numbers, and 
still wants powerful friends to patronize and endow it. Messrs. Keith and Gill, the 
Doctor's executors, by the last shii> have sent us a set of the Doctor's works, and fifty- 
two volumes of the Fathers, etc., which is the greatest donation our little library has 
yet had. 

I have visited the western provinces this fall, and find there but dead times in 
religion, except in Virginia, where God still continues to do wonders amongst the 
people; though, as of old, by instruments to the eye of human reason very weak; but 
God clothes them with power. I attended the Philadelphia Association, held in New 
York this year, and was very agreeably entertained with the company of a number of 
my fellow-servants, who seem zealous to promote the Redeemer's kingdom. One of 
them, Mr. David Jones, has been the last summer visiting and preaching to the western 
tribes of Indians between the Ohio and Mississippi ; and, like an apostle amongst the 
25 



194 BROWN UNIVEESITY. Chap. IT. 

Gentiles, was to set out on the first of this month, at his own charges to pay his inter- 
preter, and spend the winter among the natives. He says they give ear to the Gospel, 
and importuned him to come again. He thinks there is a great prospect of many turn- 
ing to God amongst them; and who knows but they may? I believe it is the first 
instance of the Baptists going among them for that purpose. The Association was 
highly pleased with the accounts he gave, and recommended it to the churches to set on 
foot a collection for him ; but I fear he must exhaust his own little pittance, notwith- 
standing what they will do; for public spirit is a virtue rarely found in this country 
amongst good people. But lest I weary your patience, I subscribe myself, sir, 

Your friend and servant, 

James Manning. 

We close this chapter with an account of a remarkable funeral 
which Mr. Manning attended in Swansea, which account he himself 
prepared and published : — 

Last Friday departed this life, in the ninety-fifth year of his age, Esek Brown, Esq., 
of this town. As he lived beloved he died lamented by every one who had the honor of 
his acquaintance. In his long and painful illness, which he bore with truly Christian 
fortitude and patience, his constant prayer to Almighty God was that he might enjoy 
the exercise of his reason, and maintain under his change a true Christian magnanim- 
ity and patience, and that God in His infinite mercy would grant him a comfortable 
passage from this to a life of blessedness — in all of which, we have reason to believe, 
God answered his requests and prayers. He has left to mourn his loss, his widow, the 
only wife he ever had, aged ninety-one years, and with whom he had lived sixty-nine 
years in happy wedlock, besides a numerous offspring, the greatest part of whom 
attended his funeral. He had descended from him, eleven children, one hundred and 
twenty-two grandchildren, one hundred and seventy-seven great-grand-children, and 
three great-grand-children's children, in all three hundred and thirteen. He was 
upwards of sixty years a regular member of the Baptist church, and a member of the 
House of Commons of Massachusetts Bay forty-one years. He also sustained several 
other offices in the town with great fidelity and honor, and among all his connections in 
business through life, which were numerous and remarkable, he never had an action at 
law either for or against him. Remarkable to relate, the cofltin in which he was buried 
was made out of whole boards sawed out of a black cherry tree which he brought in his 
own hand, on horseback, from Rhode Island, and set it out in the road before his 
garden wall with his own hands. He was an affectionate husband, a tender parent, a 
kind master, a good neighbor, and what crowns all, a pious Christian. He died on 
the 6th, and was interred on the 10th day of December, 1772. His funeral was attended 
by a vast concourse of friends, old and young, and by upwards of two hundred of his 
offspring. 



CHAPTER V. 



1770-1775. 

Manning's connection with the Baptist church in Providence — Oldest Baptist church 
in America — Founded by Roger Williams — Claims to priority of the church in 
Newport — Historians of the church ; Stanford, Hopkins, Edwards, Hague, Caldwell, 
King — Erroneous statements of Dr. "Whitsitt in Johnson's Universal Cyclopiedia — 
Settlement of Providence in 1636 — Winthrop's record of the baptism of Williams — 
Ezekiel Holliman — Church founded in 1638 — Williams's baptism was by immersion 

— Coddington's statement to this effect — First church or society in Rhode Island 
Congregational — Hopkins's statement — Winthrop's reference to early religious 
meetings at Providence — Statement of Dr. Stiles — Hopkins's account of the forma- 
tion of the Baptist church — Letter of Hugh Peters giving notice of the exclusion of 
the members from the church in Salem — Hopkins's account authoritative — Roger 
Williams minister of a Congregational church, and then of the Baptist church, 
from which he soon withdrew — Statements of Stanford, Edwards, Backus, and 
Scott — Williams's change of views — No change in his views on baptism — Believer in 
and earnest advocate of the distinguishing doctrines of the Baptists throughout life 

— Absorbed in the grand idea of founding a free colony, and in the work of convert- 
ing the Indians to Christianity — Growth of the church — Chad Brown — Early con- 
troversy respecting the doctrine of Laying on of Hands — Williams, and Elders 
Brown, Wickenden, Dexter, and Tillinghast on one side, and Elder Olney on the 
other — Olney, with a few others, withdraws and founds a " Five Principle Church" — 
Statements of Edwards, Callender, and Backus — Account of Pardon Tillinghast and 
his statements — Controversy revived and compromise made in 1732 — Samuel Winsor 

— Condition of the church in 1770, when Manning came to Providence with the Col- 
lege — Howland's recollections — History of the church from this time on as com- 
piled by Stanford — Manning invited to preach for the church — Elder Winsor objects 
to his views in regard to Laying on of Hands and Singing in Public Worship — 
Views on this subject that then prevailed — Winsor withdraws with others and 
forms a Six Principle church in Johnston — Chiirch applies to Gardner Thurston and 
Job and Russell Mason for advice — Manning appointed to preach and administer 
the ordinances — General meeting decides that the church in Providence, and not the 
seceding church in Johnston, is the original church — Manning's preaching followed 
by a revival — Meeting-house too small for the increased congregation — Steps taken 
to buikl a new one on a large scale, "for the public worship of Almighty God, and 
also for holding Commencement in" — Successive steps in the progress of the enter- 
prise — Extracts from the records — John Brown the committee-man on building — 
Expense in part defrayed by a lottery — House dedicated May 28, 1775 — Description 
of the building — Changes and additions down to the present time — Inscriptions on 
the bells — Engraving taken from Rippon's Register — Extract from Dr. Caldwell's 
Historical Discourse — Formation of the Charitable Baptist Society — Preamble by 



196 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

Manning embodying tlie Baptist sentiment in regard to " Believer's baptism by 
Immersion " — Benjamin S. Stelle clerk — Statement of principles — Closing extract 
from Arnold's Centennial Address, delivered May 28, 1875. 

The connection of President Manning with the Baptist church in 
Providence was a most important event in his life, and in the history 
of the church, to which he gave a new and lasting impulse. It was 
likewise an important event in the history of the College. On this 
account, therefore, we devote to it a special chapter of our present work. 
This church, which was founded by Roger Williams, has always been 
regarded as the oldest Baptist church in America. Its priority in age, 
"has been asserted by the unanimous voice of Baptists and of others. 
The story has been told by father to son, and handed down, through 
thousands of the families of this State and land, without change. The 
earliest chronicles have recorded it. It has been woven into every his- 
tory which was ever written of the State or of the denomination." 

Such is the language of a report prepared by a committee consisting 
of the Rev. Dr. James N. Granger, pastor, the Rev. Dr. Alexis Caswell, 
afterwards President of Brown University, and Professor William Gam- 
mell. The report was read in church meeting August 25, 1850, and to 
the Warren Association, September 12, 1850. It was a review of a 
report presented to the Association in 1849, claiming for the First 
Baptist Church in Newport the priority in age. 

On the 22d of November, 1850, the Rev. Samuel Adlam, pastor of 
the First Baptist Church in Newport, published a most remarkable 
pamphlet, entitled, "The First Church in Providence, not the oldest of 
the Baptists in America." In this pamphlet, and in the Associational 
letter of 1847, from the church of which the writer was pastor, it is 
claimed, that when Clarke, Coddington, and sixteen others, all Congre- 
gationalists, and most of them members of Mr. Cotton's church in 
Boston, settled at Portsmouth, seven miles from Newport, in the spring 
of 1638, they founded a Baptist church ; and that this therefore is the 
oldest Baptist church in America. The fact that this church in Ports- 
mouth was regarded by Cotton's church as composed of " our mem- 
bers," so the record reads, and that the Boston church sent a deputation 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 197 

of three members^ in 1640, remonstrating with them for communicating 
with Anne Hutchinson, "an excommunicated person," sufficiently dis- 
proves this claim. Newport, moreover, was not settled until May 1, 
1639. The earliest date given for the Newport church by Callender, 
Stiles, Edwards, Backus, and others, is 1644. 

The history of the First Baptist Church in Providence during the 
first century of its existence, is involved in more or less of obscurity, 
there being no contemporaneous records. It has been preserved by 
tradition, and by such incidental statements and allusions as come to 
our knowledge by accident, rather than by any special care on the part 
of the church itself. More than a century ago the Rev. John Stanford, 
then acting as pastor, gathered such minutes as at that time could be 
found, and incorporated them in what is called the Book of Records. 
This account, from 1639 to the death of Manning, written by Mr. 
Stanford, was published by Dr. Rippon in his Baptist Register for 1801 
and 1802, with an engraving of the meeting-house. It was afterwards 
incorporated by Dr. Benedict in his Baptist history. On the 20th of 
October, 1762, the Hon. Stephen Hopkins published in the Provi- 
dence Gazette the first number of his remarkable series of articles on 
"The Planting and Growth of Providence." In this number, and in 
succeeding numbers published in 1765, he gives a brief account of the 
origin and growth of the church. Being a direct descendant of Wil- 
liam Wickenden and Thomas Hopkins, two of the original members of 
the church, and intimately associated with the direct descendants of 
Roger Williams, who died only twenty-four years before the writer of 
the articles was born, his statements have been accepted as authorita- 
tive. In the year 1771 the Rev. Morgan Edwards, accompanied by 
Mr. Moses Brown, visited all the elderly people of the place, gathering 



1 The three brethren sent by the church in Boston to the Portsmouth church, were Capt. 
Edward Gibbons, Mr. Hibbins, and Mr. Oliver. These commissioners made their return to the 
church in Boston, March 16, 1640. A full account of their report is preserved in a thick quarto MS. 
of great value, belonging to the Massachusetts Historical Society. It was written by Capt. Robert 
Keayne, the founder and first Captain of the famous Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. 
He gives the report which the several Commissioners made, in their own words. Large extracts 
from this MS. are published in Ellis's Life of Anne. Hutchinson. See Sparks's American Biography, 
Vol. 16, page 328. 



198 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

information and facts which he afterwards incorporated in his ' ' Mate- 
rials for a History of the Baptists in Rhode Island." This history, 
which now forms a part of the Collections of the Rhode Island Histori- 
cal Society, includes an account of Roger Williams, and the church 
which he founded. In the year 1839, two centuries after its founda- 
tion, the Rev. Dr. William Hague, then the pastor, collected into an 
elaborate discourse the principal facts in regard to the origin and growth 
of the church, and its successive pastors. This was published, making 
a duodecimo volume of one hundred and ninety-two pages. It is now 
a rare book. In 1877 the Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Caldwell, and Prof. 
William Gammell, were appointed by the church a committee to pre- 
pare a sketch of its history for publication by the Warren Association. 
This, with illustrative notes, makes a pamphlet of twenty-thi-ee pages. 
Sunday, April 28, 1889, was the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary 
of the formation of the church. The discourse in the morning by the 
pastor, the Rev. Dr. T. Edwin Brown, the historical discourse in the 
afternoon by the Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Caldwell, and the other exercises, 
were afterwards printed, making a handsome volume of one hundred 
and twenty-two pages. While these sheets are passing through the 
press, another history appears from the ready pen of the present pastor, 
the Rev. Dr. Henry M. King. It is published by the American Baptist 
Publication Society, and is entitled, "The Mother Church." The 
most that can be expectied of us in a work like the present, is a brief 
narrative from the sources here enumerated of the early history of the 
church, with a continuation during the ministry of President Manning. 
And in the outset we allude to an article in the new edition of 
Johnson's Universal Cyclopaedia, which a writer in the Examiner terms 
"Astonishing Baptist history," being utterly at variance with the most 
important facts and statements in the histories above enumerated. In 
an article on Baptists by the Rev. Dr. William H. Whitsitt, President 
of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, under the division 
" Baptists of America," the author thus writes : — 

In 1636, Roger Williams, who had been banished from the Colony of Massachusetts 
Bay, established a community at Providence, and set up a church. He preached with 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 199 

zeal and regularity until March, 1639, when it was decided to make a new departure. 
Williams, having become convinced of the error of Infant Baptism, concluded to 
obtain a rebaptism. Eleven others joined him in this step. Ezekiel Holliman bap- 
tized Williams, and then Williams baptized the rest of the company. The ceremony 
was most likely performed by sprinkling.* 

Dr. Whitsitt further adds : — 

In 1644 Williams returned from England with a charter for the colony. It is 
believed that Mr. Mark Lucar came over with him. ... In 1644 the church in 
Newport was organized with him as one of the most important members. This is 
believed to signify that they then received immersion at the hands of Lucar, and 
became for the first time a regular Baptist church in the sense now accepted. Probably 
the immersion of the Providence men followed in a short while. 

Under the division "First Period of American Baptist History," 
Dr. Whitsitt writes : — 

The earliest churches of Providence and Newport were both of the Particular Bap- 
tist persuasion, but the General Baptists shortly appeared upon the scene. In 1652 a 
General Baptist Church was formed at Providence by Chad Brown, Gregory Dexter, 
and William Wickenden, and in 1656 a similar church was established at Newport. . . . 
About the year 1718 the First Church in Providence, of which Williams was the founder, 
became extinct, and the General Baptist Church of the Browns triumphed over it. 

Speaking of the General Baptists and the Particular Baptists, and 
the gradual triumphs of the latter over the former, Dr. Whitsitt adds 
respecting the First Baptist Church of Providence : — 

The Gibraltar of the General Baptists, however, still held out; the church in Provi- 
dence had not yet been directly assailed. In 1770 the labor of taking this stronghold 
was begun. Manning succeeded to admiration ; in due time Samuel Winsor retired to 
Johnston with the original church, and the present First Baptist Church of Providence 
was founded in 1771. 

The generally received date of the settlement of Providence is June, 
1636. The two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the planting of the 



1 This statement of Dr. "Whitsitt is simply an inference, of course, from the alleged later intro- 
duction of immersion among the English Baptists. 



200 BEOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. V. 

town was celebrated June 24, 1886, when an historical discourse was 
delivered in the First Baptist Meeting-house by the Honorable Judge 
Durfee, a graduate of Brown University, in the class of 1846. 

The lirst distinct record of any organic action as a church, appears 
in Winthrop's Journal, to which authoritative reference is made in all 
matters pertaining to early New England history. The writer was a 
warm personal friend of Williams, and a frequent correspondent after 
his banishment ; he knew therefore the facts in the case. Under date 
of March 16, 1639, we find the following : — 

At Providence things grew still worse ; for a sister of Mrs. Hutchinson, the wife of 
Scott, being infected Avith Anabaptistry, and going last year to live at Providence, Mr. 
Williams was taken (or rather emboldened) by her, to make open profession thereof, 
and accordingly was rebaptized by one Holyman,^ a poor man late of Salem. Then 
Mr. Williams rebaptized him and some ten more. They also denied the baptizing of 
infants. 

The exact date of this important event is not known. It is gen- 
erally given as "some time earlier than March, 1689." The term laM 



1 The name is usually spelled Holliman. Why Winthrop should call him "a poor man late of 
Salem," and Hubbard " a mean fellow," does not appear. Probably it was on account of his so 
called heretical opinions. In the Records of the General Court of Massachusetts for the year 
1638, are the following words, as quoted by Backus : — " Ezekiel Holliman, appearing upon sum- 
mons, because he did not frequent the public assemblies, and for seducing many, was referred by 
the Court to the ministers for conviction." This was the year when he came to Providence and 
became one of the original thirteen proprietors. This, too, was the probable year of the forma- 
tion of the Baptist church. Evidently he was a man of ability and influence, or he would not 
have been appointed by the Providence brethren to take the initiatory step in so important a 
matter as this new baptism. An ordinary man would hardly have been accused by the Massachu- 
setts Court of " seducing many." Mr. Holliman eventually removed to Warwick, where he held 
positions of trust, being for many years Commissioner from that town. He was born, according 
to Savage, in Tring, Hertfordshire, England. He married for his second wife Mary, widow of 
Isaac Sweet. She was a member of the church in Salem, from which she was excluded, as appears 
from the letter of Hugh Peters, pastor, dated July 1, 1639. He was one of the founders of Dedham, 
Massachusetts. AVinthrop's Journal, under date of September 1, 1635, states that a town was then 
begun above the falls in Charles river. That was the day when twelve persons assembled for the 
first time as a town meeting. That town was Dedham. The next year, November, 1636, their num- 
bers had increased to nineteen. They then formed the town Covenant, so called, and petitioned 
the General Court for an enlargement of their former grant. Worthington, in his history of Ded- 
ham, gives the names of these nineteen petitioners, among whom was Ezekiel Holliman. The 
next year, 1637, he obtained leave to sell his lots. His name does not appear again upon the Dedham 
town records. 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 201 

year used by Winthrop, strictly speaking, would be the year between 
March 25, 1637, and March 25, 1638, as the year then commenced on 
the 25th of March, and Winthrop's entry is dated March 16, 1639. 
Mrs. Hutchinson, according to the statement of Dr. Ellis, her 
biographer, was excommunicated from Mr. Cotton's church on the 
22d of March, 1638. She left Boston on the 28th of the month for 
Braintree, and from thence proceeded to Providence, where she joined 
Clarke, Coddington, and others, for their new destination at Ports- 
mouth, near Newport. The year 1638, therefore, may fairly be assumed 
as the date of the founding of the church, although 1639 is the date 
which the church has been accustomed to take. 

That tliis rebaptism of Williams and his associates was immersion 
has never, to the writer's knowledge, been questioned, except in the 
case of Dr. Whitsitt, who states that "the ceremony was most likely 
performed by sprinkling." Governor Coddington, who was the leading 
man among the Newport colonists, was at Providence with Clarke and 
others in 1638. It was through the influence of Williams with the 
Indians that he was enabled to obtain from them a deed of Aquidneck, 
now the Island of Rhode Island. Coddington was at that time a promi- 
nent member of the Boston church. Eventually he joined the 
Quakers ; and he was hence displeased with Williams on account of his 
controversy with George Fox. In a letter dated June 25, 1677, and 
published in "New England Fire Brand Quenched," he thus writes 
concerning the founder of the Baptist church : — "I have known him 
about fifty years, a mere weathercock, constant only in unconstancy. 

. . One time for water-baptism, men and Avomen must be 
PLUNGED INTO THE WATER ; and then throw it all down again." 

It is stated by Dr. Caldwell and others that there was no organiza- 
tion for religious purposes until more than two years after the date of 
the first settlement. Hopkins, however, who was in a position to know 
the facts, states to the contrary. In his first article on Providence, after 
speaking of the landing of Roger Williams and his companions on a 
neck of land lying between the mouths of Pawtucket and Moshassuck 
rivers, he thus writes : — 

26 



202 BROWN UNIVEESITY Chap. V. 

Upon this neck of land, given them by the beneficent Sachem (Canonicus), they 
settled themselves in the best manner their very poor, and truly deplorable circum- 
stances would admit of ; being quite destitute of every necessary, as well as conveniency 
of life, and entirely cut off from all communication with every part of mankind, 
except the savages. Even those with whom they had so lately left their native country 
for the same cause of religion, were now become their greatest persecutors and most 
cruel enemies. This settlement was the feeble beginning of the third New England 
colony, first planted in the year 1634,^ by the renowned and worthy Mr. Roger Williams 
and his twelve poor suffering companions, namely, John Throckmorton, William 
Arnold, William Harris, Stukely Westcott, John Greene, Thomas Olney, Richard 
Waterman, Thomas James, Robert Cole, William Carpenter, Francis Weston, and 
Ezekiel Holliman. 

This small company Mr. Williams formed into a church, and on that occasion piously 
observed to his brethren, that the Providence of God had found out a place for them 
among savages, where they might peaceably worship God according to their consci- 
ences ; a privilege which had been denied them in all the Christian countries they had 
ever been in. In thankfulness for this greatest of blessings, he named the place where 
they were settled. Providence. As they were all fully sensible of the horrid mischiefs 
and atrocious sin of persecution, they established an universal liberty of conscience, as 
well for all others who should come and settle with them, as for themselves. And 
this natural right of all mankind has been inviolably maintained throughout the Colony 
to this day. Liberty of conscience being settled in this, and denied in the two neigh- 
boring colonies, soon brought more of those to join with them, whose faith did not 
exactly agree with the fixed standards there ; and in a short time afterwards there were 
added to the church at Providence, Robert Williams, John Smith, Hugh Bewit, William 
Wickenden, John Field, Thomas Hopkins, and William Hawkins. 

The little church which Mr. Hopkins here states Williams formed, 
was of course a Congregational church. No records, if they had any, 
have been preserved. Most of the company were members of the church 
in Salem, and they still considered themselves, says the historian 
Upham, "the minister of the Salem church, and a chosen band of his 



1 This date should be 1636. Consequently the Colony was the fourth, and not the third. The 
same mistake was made by Callender , and also by Hubbard. These writers were misled doubtless by 
the language of Williams in his deed of 1661, in which he speaks of negotiations with the Narra- 
gansett Sachems in 1634, and in 1635. Theodore Foster, whose " Materials for a History of Rhode 
Island " are published In the seventh volume of the " Collections of the Rhode Island Historical 
Society" together with Hopkins's " Historical Account of the Planting and Growth of Provi- 
dence," gives the true date of the settlement. 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 203 

faithful flock." Winthrop in his journal for December, 1638, speaks of 
"religious meetings" held at Providence "upon the week days," as 
well as on Sunday. These meetings were held at Roger Williams's 
house. The Rev. Dr. Stiles, who was pastor of the Second Congrega- 
tional church in Newport from 1755 until 1776, in a paper on file in the 
archives of the church, entitled " Memoirs of transactions in procuring 
a charter from the General Assembly, 1771," thus writes respecting 
this church and its successor : — 

The first church in Rhode Island was Congregational, and settled here in 1636, under 
Rev. Roger Williams, who administered the Lord's Supper and the Baptism of Infants 
by sprinkling for the first three years ; till in 1639 he and his church renounced their 
baptism, and were baptized by plunging. Brother Holliman first plunging Mr. Wil- 
liams, and then Mr. Williams in turn the rest, or most of them. 

Concerning the formation of the Baptist church, Mr. Hopkins 
writes in the columns of the Providence Gazette for 1765 as follows : — 

The first church formed at Providence by Mr. Williams and others, seems to have 
been on the model of the Congregational churches in the other New England colonies. 
But it did not long continue in this form, for most of its members very soon embraced 
the principles and practices of the Baptists ; and some time earlier than 1639, gathered 
and formed a church at Providence of that society, the principal members^ of which 
were William Wickenden, the first elder, Chad Brown, Thomas Olney, Gregory Dexter, 
Ezekiel Holliman, Stukeley Westcott, etc. That this church was begun as early as I 
have placed it, is evident from a letter of the famous Hugh Peters, minister of Salem, 
to the church at Dorchester, dated the first of the fifth month (July 1st), 1639, in which 
he writes : ^ — 

Reverend and dearly beloved in the Lord: 

We thought it our bounden duty to acquaint you with the names of such persons as 
have had the great censure passed upon them in this our church, with the reasons 
thereof. . . . Roger Williams, and his wife, John Throckmorton, and his wife, 
Thomas Olney, and his wife, Stukeley Westcott, and his wife, Mary Holliman, and 



1 Mr. Williams's name is not here mentioned by Governor Hopkins. It was taken for granted, of 
course, that he was the leader in this movement. Governor Winthrop so states it in his Journal. 
So also Callender, Stiles, Edwards. Backus, and other early writers. 

2 This letter is published in full in Knowles's " Memoir of Roger Williams," pages 176 and 177. 



204 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

widow Reeves. These wholly refused to hear the church, denying it, and all the 
churches in the Bay, to be true churches ; and except two, are all rebaptized. 

Yours in the Lord Jesus, 

Hugh Peters. 

There seems to have been but one society or naeeting of the Baptists, formed in the 
English nation, before this at Providence, and that was in London, under the pastoral 
care of Mr. John Spilsbury, on the 12th of September, 1633. The second in England was 
in 1639, gathered by Mr. Greene, and others. This first church at Providence, hath 
from its beginning kept itself in repute, and maintained its discipline, so as to avoid 
scandal, or schism, to this day; hath always been, and still is a numerous congregation, 
and in which I have with pleasure observed, very lately, sundry descendants from each 
of the above named founders, except Holliman. 

Statements like these respecting the origin and continuity of the 
First Baptist Church, made by the leading man of his time, and a mem- 
ber of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, must have weight in the 
minds of all thoughtful readers. When he published his " Historical 
Account of the Planting and Growth of Providence," he had nearly 
reached the age of three-score years. He himself, as has already been 
stated, was a direct descendant of Wickenden and Hopkins, the former 
an elder in the Baptist church, and the latter a member of the original 
Congregational church. The pastor of the Baptist church, Samuel 
Winsor, with whom he was on terms of intimacy, was the great grand- 
son, on his mother's side, of Roger Williams. The idea that this 
church seceded in 1652, on account of the doctrine of Laying on of 
Hands, and that the original church founded by Williams, under the 
leadership of Thomas Olney, afterwards " went to pieces," according to 
the fanciful theories of some recent writers, would seem in view of 
Hopldns's account simply preposterous. In point of fact, Olney and a 
few others withdrew from the original body about the year 1654, as we 
shall see further on. 

Roger Williams, it will thus be seen, was the minister of the Con- 
gregational church in Salem, and the minister of those who came with 
him from Salem to Providence. He organized a Baptist church some 
two or three years after the settlement of the town, and is therefore 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 205 

justly regarded as its founder. How long he retained his connection 
with the church can never, from the want of records, be definitely- 
determined. Stanford, who in 1788 made up what are called the 
Records, says that he "held his pastoral office about four years, and 
then resigned the same to Mr. Brown and Mr. Wickenden, and went 
to England to solicit the first charter." Morgan Edwards says the first 
minister and founder of the church " was Roger Williams. He became 
their minister at the time they were settled in 1638, but in a few years 
resigned the care thereof to Rev. Messrs. Brown and Wickenden."^ Mr. 
Edwards, it may be observed, gives 1638 as the date of the formation of 
the church. Backus, in his "History of the Baptists in New England,"^ 
says, " But the unruly passions of some among them, with other things, 
caused such scruples in Williams's mind, in about four months, that he 
refrained from administering or partaking of special ordinances in any 
church ever after, as long as he lived, though he would preach the gos- 
pel, and join in social worship with such as agreed with him, all his 
days." This is more in accord with the statement made by Richard 
Scott, a neighbor of Williams for more than forty years. He was at 
first a Baptist, but afterwards joined the Quakers. In a somewhat 
unfriendly letter,^ growing out of the George Fox controversy, he thus 
writes : — 

I walked with him in the Baptist's way about three or four months, in which time 
he brake from the Society, and declared at large the ground and reason for it; that 
their baptism could not be right because it was not administered by an apostle. After 
that he set upon a way of seeking, with two or three of them that had dissented with 
him, by way of preaching and praying. 

Winthrop, under date of July, 1639, writes that Williams soon 
' ' came to question his second baptism, not being able to derive the 
authority of it from the apostles, otherwise than by the ministers of 
England, whom he judged to be ill authority." 



' Materials for a History of the Baptists in Rhode Island. See " Collections of the Rhode Island 
Historical Society," Vol. VI., page 316. 
2 Edition of 1871, Vol. 2, page 490. 
' See " New England Fire Brand Quenched," Part II., page 217. 



206 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

From these various testimonies, and the sentiments expressed in his 
"Hireling Ministry," a little work published in 1652, it is evident that 
Williams, soon after the organization of the Church, experienced a 
change in his religious views. He became, in the language of Scott a 
Seeker; "a term," says Professor Gammell,^ not "inaptly applied to 
those, who, in any age of the Church, become dissatisfied with its pre- 
vailing creeds and institutions, and seek for more congenial views of 
truth, or a faith better adapted to their spiritual wants. He regarded 
all the churches of Christendom as, in some sense, in a state of apos- 
tas}^, and the clergy of every name, as having fallen from their priestly 
office, and lost their true apostolic authority, and he looked for a new 
commission to be given from Heaven, to restore the sacred succession 
of apostles, and re-establish on their primitive basis, the ordinances of 
the gospel." His mind, like the minds of many other good men of his 
day, became blind, as Professor Knowles expresses it, "by excess of 
light, ' ' while gazing at the glorious vision of the Apocalypse ; and he 
formed the conclusion that in the disastrous Antichristian apostasy, the 
general turmoil of the times, and the upheaval of the foundations of 
government and institutions, the true ministry and the whole organiza- 
tion of the church had gone to ruin ; from which, however, he believed 
they would be restored, and the Savior's Kingdom would come on earth. 
Such also were the views of his friend, Sir Henry Vane, the great Eng- 
lish statesman. 

Notwithstanding this change in his religious sentiments, Williams 
still believed in the doctrine of "Believers' Baptism by Immersion." 
In his " Christenings make not Christians," a discourse published in 
1645, he speaks of a "baptism or washing in rivers, as the first Chris- 
tians and the Lord Jesus himself did." And in a letter to his friend. 
Governor Winthrop,^ dated December 10, 1649, more than ten years 
after his immersion, he thus writes : — 

At Seekonk a great many have concurred with Mr. John Clarke and our Providence 
men about the point of a new baptism, and the manner by dipping; and Mr. John 



1 Life of Roger ■Williams, page 200. See Sparks's American Biography. 2d series, Vol. IV. 

2 Publications of the Narragansett Club. Vol. VI., page 188. 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 207 

Clarke hath been there lately (and Mr. Lucar), and hath dipped them. I believe their 
practice comes nearer the first practice of our great Founder Christ Jesus, than other 
practices of religion do ; and yet I have not satisfaction neither in the authority by 
which it is done, nor in the manner, nor in the prophecies concerning the rising of 
Christ's Kingdom after the desolations of Rome, etc. 

In regard to the other great doctrines held by the Baptists of his 
day, Liberty of Conscience, or Soul Liberty, the entire Separation of 
Church and State, the Supreme Headship of C/hrist in all spiritual 
matters, Regeneration through the Agency of the Holy Spirit, and a 
hearty belief in the Bible as God's Divinely inspired and miraculously 
preserved Word, and an all sufficient Rule for Faith and Practice, he 
was throughout life a sincere believer in them all and an earnest advo- 
cate of them, as his letters and published works abundantly show. 

In point of fact Williams was too much absorbed in the grand idea 
now growing in his mind, of founding a Colony, the first in the civil- 
ized world on the principles of civil and religious freedom, to give that 
attention to the church as pastor and preacher which he had been 
accustomed to give. Moreover his great mission, the one in the outset 
prominent in the minds of the early settlers of Massachusetts Bay, as 
their charter and other documents show, was the conversion of the 
Indians to Christianity. For this he labored for more than half a cen- 
tury, with a perseverance, a disinterestedness, and a zeal, almost with- 
out a parallel in the annals of missionary effort.^ By the whole tenor 
of his life and conduct, says Callender,^ " he appears to have been one 
of the most disinterested men that ever lived, and a most pious and 
heavenly minded soul." In view of all the facts here stated, the First 
Baptist Church may justly pride itself on its early origin, and on its 
connection with the illustrious Williams as its founder and first pastor. 

But though Williams soon relinquished the pastoral oversight of the 
church, devoting himself mainly to missionary efforts, and the develop- 



1 See the writer's address before the American Baptist Home Mission Society, deUvered in 
Philadelphia, May 27, 1892, and published in the Home Mission Monthly for October, 1892. The 
address is entitled, " Roger Williams, the Pioneer Missionary to the Indians." 

2 Century Discourse, delivered March 24, 1738. See " Collections of the Rhode Island Historical 
Society," Vol. IV. 



208 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

ment of a Colony or State, the original members, most of them, 
remained, and others were from time to time added to their number. 
The names of Chad Brown, William Wickenden, Thomas Olney, 
Gregory Dexter, and Pardon Tillinghast, have come down to us as 
those who served as elders. They were an unpaid ministry having 
gifts of "prophesying;" and they fulfilled the conditions required of 
them. The town was for many years a poor, straggling hamlet, con- 
sisting of less than one hundred houses or log cabins even as late as 
1676, when all but five were burned by the Indians during King Philip's 
war.^ Among these elders, tradition has given to Brown the priority, 
though the others were contemporaries with him. He was unques- 
tionably a man of superior abilities, professing practical wisdom and 
plain common sense ; and he served as arbiter in many of the difficulties 
occurring in the town. His house-lot, as has already been stated, 
included a part of the present College grounds. Many years after his 
death, which the colonists regarded as a public calamity, Williams 
wrote of him as "that noble spirit now with God." In the writer's 
former life of Manning, thirty-three pages are devoted to an account 
of him and his descendants, one of whom, James Brown, was also an 
elder in the church. 

During the eldership of Chad Brown, there appears to have orig- 
inated a religious controversy, which was long agitated in the town, 
and indeed throughout the Colony. It had reference to the " Laying 
on of Hands," mentioned in the Sixth Chapter of Hebrews ; a doctrine 
which prevailed in the Providence church for more than a century. 
Roger Williams was a believer in the doctrine, referring to it in his 
published works^ as a "light of the first institution," and "one of the 
foundations of the Christian religion." The principal leaders in this 
controversy were Brown, Wickenden, Dexter, and Tillinghast, on the 
one side, and Olney, who favored giving up the doctrine altogether, 



1 Theodore Foster in his " Materials for a History of Rhode Island," states " that when the war 
of 1675 broke out, there were near an hundred houses in Providence, which were destroyed, except 
five which were garrisoned, when the town was burnt, in the war, on the 29th day of March, 1676." 

2 Bloudy Tenent, 1643, page 21. Hireling Ministry, 1652, page 6. 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 209 

on the other. Not succeeding in carrying his point, he with a few- 
others withdrew from the church and formed a new one, calhng it the 
" Five Principle Baptist Church." There are no records extant upon 
the subject, and our only sources of information are the statements of 
Comer, Callender, Edwards, and Backus. Edwards thus states the 
case, as he received it from Elder Winsor and others in 1771 : — 

Some divisions have taken place in this church. The first was about the year 1(554, 
on account of the Laying on of Hands. Some were for banishing it entirely, among 
whom Rev. Thomas Olney was the chief, who, with a few more, withdrew and formed 
themselves into a distinct church, distinguished by the name of Five Point Baptist, 
and the first of the name in the Province. It continued in being to 1715, when Mr. 
Olney' resigned the care of it, and soon after it ceased to exist. 

It is not certain when the active ministry of Pardon Tillinghast 
commenced. He was born in England in 1622, and admitted to 
citizenship in Providence, January 19, 1646,^ receiving twenty-five 
acres of land. He was then in his twenty-fifth year. He lived to be 
ninetj^-six, continuing his ministry until his death in 1718. A fine mon- 
ument has recently been erected to his memory on his burial lot on Benefit 
Street, near the corner of Transit Street. Roger Williams speaks of him 
in 1672 as "a leading man among the people called Baptists, at Provi- 
dence."* Gov. Joseph Jenckes writes of him in 1730 as "a man 
exemplary for his doctrine, as well as of an unblemished character."* 
An original letter of his, dated July, 1681,^ shows that the church of 
which he was the elder, was at that time "Six Principle." It was 
during his ministry, and after the church had lived without one for 



1 Thomas Olney, Jua. He died, it is stated, "June 11, 1722, and was buried iu his own field." 
His father, who was one of the original members of the church, died in 1682. Callender, writing 
in 1738, gives substantially the same account of this division. His statement is as follows : — 
"About the year 1653 or 1654, there was a division in the Baptist Church at Providence, about the 
rite of Laying on of Hands, which some pleaded for as essentially necessary to church communion 
and the others would leave indifferent. Hereupon they walked in two churches, one under Mr. 
Chad Brown, Mr. Wickenden, etc., and the other under Mr. Thomas Olney; but Laying on of Hands 
at length generally prevailed." The churches holding to this rite were called " Six Principle 
Churches," and they are so called to this day. 

' Staples. Annals of Providence, page 61. 

' Geo. Fox. Publications of the Narragansett Club. Vol. V., page 320. 

* Backus. History of the Baptists, edition of 1871, Vol. II., page 23. 

» Guild. Documentary History of Brown University, page 208. 



210 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

more than sixty years, that we first hear of a meeting-house, which was 
built at his expense, and given by him to the church in a deed dated 
April 11, 1711.^ This house stood on the west side of North Main 
Street, near Smith Street, and is said to have been "in the shape of a 
hay-cap, with a fire-place in the middle, the smoke escaping from a 
hole in the roof."^ 

It was during the ministry of Ebenezer Jenckes, a brother of the 
Governor, and James Brown, a grandson of Chad, that the more liberal 
sentiment of the church asserted itself in regard to Laying on of Hands, 
about which there had been in previous years so much controversy. A 
revival of religion was in progress in Newport, and Mr. John Walton, 
a young minister of liberal education, and a physician, had been invited 
to preach in Providence, with the hope of promoting one here also. He 
accepted the invitation ; but he was found ready not only to receive 
contributions for his support, as Governor Jenckes recommended, but 
he was also found guilty of the innovation of the "singing of Psalms," 
and the heresy of receiving to communion those who were " not under 
hands." Samuel Winsor, a grandson of Roger Williams and a deacon 
in the church, was the leader of the rigid party. At first, according to 
Backus,' there was a separation. A compromise was finally effected, 
and an agreement was signed by twenty-four of the prominent members 
of the church allowing the " Six Principles "to be the bonds of com- 
munion. This was May 25, 1732. Elder Brown died in October fol- 
lowing, and Winsor's party ordained him as Brown's successor in the 
ministry. An account of the revival of the old controversy, with the 
names of those who signed the covenant, is given in the writer's sketch 
of James Brown.'* 

Such was the Baptist church at the time of Manning's arrival in 
Providence, May 4, 1770. It was one hundred and thirty-two years 



1 The deed was not recorded until April 22, 1749. In a note or memorandum the donor, referring 
to the doctrine of Laying on of Hands mentioned in the deed, states that " the church of which he 
was the Elder was Six Principle." Mr. Tillinghast appears to have been a strenuous advocate of 
this doctrine. 

2 Knowles. Memoir of Roger Williams, page 175. 

3 mstory of the Baptists. Edition of 1871, Vol. II., pages 22-23. 

4 Manning and Brown University, 1864, pages 152-155. 



1770-1775. ATs^D MANNING. 211 

old dating from 1638 ; and yet, in a population of four thousand inhab- 
itants, with no other rival church or society for nearly a century,^ it had 
but one hundred and eighteen members, many of them living in John- 
ston, Pawtucket, and other places remote from their house of worahip. 
It had never paid its ministers for their services, and on principle was 
opposed to such a procedure. It was still vigorous for the doctrine of 
Laying on of Hands, in accordance with the views of its elders or pas- 
tors from the beginning ; and it refused communion to those who did 
not practice such doctrine. It held those liable to discipline who should 
"join in prayer without the bounds of the church," in accordance with 
the " agreement " of May 25, 1732. It discarded singing and music in 
public worship after the manner of the Quakers, and the early Baptists 
in England. And it was Arminian in sentiment, holding with the 
General Baptists to the doctrine of universal redemption. 

The celebrated antiquary, John Rowland, came to Providence in 
April, 1770, just one month before Manning. He was then in his 
thirteenth year. Here he spent the remaining years of his protracted 
and useful life, dying in 1854, at the age of ninety-seven. He was 
always a keen observer of men and things, and in his ' ' Life and Recol- 
lections " are recorded many events of local interest and value. Con- 
cerning the house and worship of the Baptist church at this time, he 
thus writes : — 

When I came to Providence there were five religious societies here. One was the old 
Arminian Baptist. Their meeting-house was about forty feet square, and stood on the 
lot now forming the corner of North Main and Smith Streets. At high water the tide 
flowed nearly up to the west end of the building. There were no pews.' From the front 
door opening on Main Street, an aisle extended to the pulpit, which was raised three or 



> The Society of Friends in Providence, according to Staples, was organized about the year 1704, 
when a meeting-house was erected for their worship. The First Congregational Society was formed 
about the year 1720 ; in 1723 their house of worship was erected on the corner of College and Benefit 
Streets. St. John's Episcopal Church was formed about the year 1722; in 1723 a house of worship 
was erected on the spot where St. John's Church now stands. Mr. Snow's meeting, now the Benefi- 
cent Congregational Church, was formed in 1743, by a separation jfrom Mr. Cotton's church, or the 
First Congregational. 

2 This statement appears to be true only in part. There are papers, says Dr. Caldwell, among the 
files of the church, showing that in June, 1759, eleven years previous to the time Rowland describes, 
there was an appraisal or sale of seventeen pews valued at £1,357. 



212 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

four steps from the floor. On each side of the aisle benches extended north and south 
to the walls of the house, and there were benches in the gallery, which was entered by 
narrow stairs from a door on the south side of the house. It appears that it never had 
been the practice to settle an ordained minister over any particular church or society.^ 
In this they resembled the Quakers. As settlements extended into the country, and 
other places had been procured where the neighbors could attend, one of the elders 
nearest the place usually preached. The elders were generally farmers, and had no 
salary or any other means of support but their own labor. They officiated in any place 
where there was a gathering, and the people did not know who was to speak till they 
saw one begin. They did not approve of singing, and never practised it in public wor- 
ship. When more than one elder was present and the first had exhausted himself, he 
would say, " there is time and space left if any one has further to oifer." In that case 
another and another would offer what he had to say ; so there was no set time for clos- 
ing the meeting. As Elder Winsor's home was in Providence,^ he generally appeared 
in his place every Sunday, so that this came to be called Elder Winsor's meeting. The 
house could not contain a large congregation, nor did the number present seem to 
require a larger house as they were not crowded, though many of them came in from 
the neighboring towns on horseback with women behind them on pillions. 

The time had now come for advance and enlargement. "A new 
life within the church," says Dr. Caldwell, " responded to a new life 
outside ; the old period closes and a new one begins ; the church of 
Manning and his successors take the place of the church of Winsor and 
his predecessors. And that means a great change." 

The regular church records begin in April, 1775, preceded by a list 
of members admitted from December, 1774, during the great revival, to 
June 30, 1782, Prefixed to these records is a "History of the Baptist 
Church of Christ in Providence, Rhode Island, being the oldest Baptist 
Church in America." This is a brief summary of such events as could 
be collected respecting the history of the church for one hundred and 
fifty years from its foundation. It was prepared in 1789, as has already 



1 Mr. Rowland is in error so far as relates to the Baptist church in Providence. Their pastors, or 
elders, were severally ordained, the dates of their ordinations being given in the records and his- 
tory of the church. The pastor in 1770, Samuel Winsor, Jr., was ordained June 21, 1759. 

2 His home was really in Johnston, three miles from the place of meeting. This was formerly a 
part of Providence, but it was incorporated as a separate township in March, 1759. See Rhode 
Island Census for 1885. 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 213 

been stated, by the Rev. John Stanford, a preacher from England, who 
served as temporary pastor from March, 1788, to September, 1789. Mr. 
Stanford's original manuscript of twenty folio pages is preserved in the 
archives of the Society. That portion of the narrative which gives the 
details of Manning's connection with the church, we shall now freely 
use without apology, interweaving it with the present narrative in such 
form as may seem desirable. 

Rev. Samuel Winsor, Jr., was born November 1, 1722, in the township of Providence, 
and was ordained June 21, 1759. He continued his office with ease and some success till 
towards the year 1770, when he made repeated complaints to the church, that the duty 
of his office was too heavyfor him, considering the remote situation of his dwelling from 
town. He constantly urged the church to provide help in the ministry, as he was not 
able to serve them any longer in that capacity, without doing injury to his family, which 
they could not desire." * * 

Divine Providence had so ordered, that the Rev. James Manning, President of the 
Rhode Island College, was likely to remove from "Warren to settle with the College in 
this town ; and which was esteemed favorable to the wishes of Mr. Winsor and the 
church. However, at this juncture, Mr. John Sutton, minister, on his way from Nova 
Scotia to the Jerseys, arrived at Newport ; when Mr. Winsor and the church invited him 
to preach as an assistant for six months; which he did to good acceptance, and then 
pursued his journey. 

It must have been in November, 1769, when Mr. Sutton arrived at 
Newport on his way to Nova Scotia, and was invited by Mr. Winsor 
and the Church to preach as an assistant. A special meeting of the 
Corporation was held at Newport on the 14th of this month, when it 
was voted, "that the College edifice be at Providence." President 
Manning was at this meeting, as also Samuel Winsor, and the brothers, 
Nicholas and Joseph Brown. As a matter of course, it was expected 
from the vote, that the College would now be removed from Warren, and 
that Manning would accompany it to Providence. Mr. Winsor was 
anxious to be released from his pastoral duties, and the Browns and 



1 Mr. Winsor appears to have been a farmer in comfortable circumstances. At the meeting of 
the Corporation in Warren on the final location of the College, he gave security for seventy-flve 
acres of land, valued at £45, or $150, towards the erection of the College edifice. For this he was 
requested to give a deed " duly executed and recorded" to the treasurer." 



214 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

Jenckes were equally desirous to secure the services of Manning. 
Meanwhile Mr. Sutton was secured as a substitute. We learn from 
Cathcart, that " Rev. John Sutton, with a company of emigrants from 
New Jersey, settled at Newport, Nova Scotia, in 1760, and there 
preached and baptized converts." He was a member with Manning of 
the Scotch Plains Church, and accompanied him, it will be remembered, 
in the summer of 1763, on a voyage to Halifax, during which they 
stopped at Newport, and made the motion for a college. Edwards 
states, in his " Materials for the History of the Baptists in New Jersey," 
that Mr. Sutton was afterwards settled in Nova Scotia from 1766 to 
1770. This would include the six months that he was in Providence. 
Manning in a letter to Smith, under date of Nov. 18, 1790, alludes to 
" Our friend Mr. Sutton settled nearly in the centre of Kentucky, and, 
in regard to worldly prospects more happy than ever he was, ' ' having 
purchased two hundred acres of good land, etc. 

The attention of the church and Mr. Winsor was now directed to Mr. Manning; 
and at a church meeting held at the beginning of May, 1770, Daniel Jenckes, Esq., Chief 
Judge of the Inferior Court, and Solomon Drown, Esq., were chosen to wait on Mr. 
Manning upon his arrival, and, in the name of the church and congregation, to invite 
him to preach at the meeting-house. Mr. Manning accepted the invitation and delivered 
a sermon. It being Communion day, Mr. Winsor invited Mr. Manning to partake with 
them, which the President cordially accepted. After this several members were dissat- 
isfied at Mr. Manning's partaking of the Lord's Supper with them ; but, at a church 
meeting appointed for the purpose, Mr. Manning was admitted to communion by vote of 
the church. Notwithstanding this, some of the members remained dissatisfied at the 
privilege of transient communion being allowed Mr. Manning ; whereupon another 
meeting was called previous to the next communion day, in order to reconcile the diffi- 
culty. At said meeting Mr. Manning was confirmed in his privilege by a much larger 
majority. At the next church meeting Mr. Winsor appeared with an unusual number 
of members from the country, and moved to have Mr. Manning displaced, but to no 
purpose. The ostensible reason of Mr. Winsor and of those with him for objecting 
against President Manning was, that he did not make Non-imposition of Hands a bar to 
communion, though he himself had received it, and administered it to those who 
desired it. Mr. Winsor and the church knew Mr. Manning's sentiments and practice for 
more then six years at Warren ; those therefore who were well informed, attributed the 
opposition to the President's holding to singing in public worship ; which was highly 
disgustful to Mr. Winsor. 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 215 

On this point the sentiments of the Friends or Quakers appear to 
have prevailed in the church, and singing was discarded as unauthorized 
by the New Testament. The same was true with other Baptist 
churches in Rhode Island. What diversity of opinion once existed 
touching that which is now regarded as an essential part of worship, 
and of universal practice, may be seen by reading the pages of Backus 
and Edwards, and by consulting the controversial works on this subject 
of Claridge, Keach, Marlow, Allen, Russell, and others, which were 
published in London at the close of the seventeenth contury, all of 
which may be found upon the shelves af the College Library.^ It was 
about this time that singing was introduced among the English Bap- 
tists. Probably persecution had much to do with its general omission 
in their earlier religious assemblies. The Rev. Benjamin Keach, a cel- 
ebrated writer and preacher, introduced it in his church, and in 1691 
published a work advocating the singing of " Psalms and Hymns and 
Spiritual Songs." It met with bitter opposition. Some of his people 
on this account withdrew and founded the Maze Pond church, and pro- 
hibited singing in their worship. 

The difficulty increasing, it was resolved to refer the business to the next Associa- 
tion (Yearly Meeting of the Six Principle Baptist Churches) at Swansea. But when the 
case was presented, the Association, after a full hearing on both sides, agreed that they 
had no right to determine, and that the church must act for themselves. The next 
church meeting, which was in October, was uncommonly full. All matters relative to 
the President were fully debated, and by a much greater majority were determined in 
his favor. It was then agreed that all should sit down at the Lord's Table the next 
Sabbath, which was accordingly done. But at the subsequent communion season, Mr. 
Winsor declined administering the ordinance, assigning for a reason, that a number of 
the brethren were dissatisfied. April 18, 1771, being church meeting, Mr. Winsor 
appeared and produced a paper signed by a number of members living out of town, 
dated Johnston, Feb. 27, 1771, in which they say: — 

Brethren and Sisters: We must in conscience withdraw ourselves from all who do 



1 The curious on this subject may be interested in reading the titles of some of these works : — 
"Answer to Richard Allen's Essay to prove that Singing is a Christian Duty." By Richard 
Claridge. 12mo. Lend., 1697; " Singing proved to be a Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ." By Rev. 
Benjamin Keach. 8vo. Lond., 1691; " The Controversie of Singing brought to an End." By Isaac 
Marlow, 12mo. Lond., 1696; " Brief Animadversions on AUen's Essay on Singing." By William 
Russell, M. D. 12mo. Lond., 1696. 



216 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

not hold strictly to the Six Principles of the doctrine of Christ, as laid down in Hebrews 
vi. 1 and 2. 

At a church meeting held May 30, 1771, Mr. Wiusor made a second declaration, that 
he withdrew from the church at Providence, and that he should break bread in John- 
ston (an adjacent town), which he accordingly did the first Lord's day in June, and 
continued so to do. 

In the language of Knight, he, with Deacon John Dyer, and others, 
withdrew "and set up a separate church and communion." The num- 
ber of original members is stated to have been eighty-seven. These 
could not all have withdrawn from the Providence church, as that would 
have left but a small minority of thirty-one. Backus, who was inti- 
mate with Manning, and knew all the facts, thus states the case : — 
" Samuel Winsor succeeded his father in the care of the church, from 
1759 until 1771, when he and a minor part of the church drew off, on 
account of differing sentiments concerning the doctrines of grace, and 
singing in public worship then introduced (which was a return to the 
first principles of the church), and he and his followers formed another 
church in Johnston." This church has long ceased to exist, but the 
records are preserved, and the building where they worshipped is still 
standing. 

The church remaining in Providence applied to the Rev. Gardner Thurston, of New- 
port, for advice. In consequence of advice received, it was resolved to apply to the 
Rev. Job and Russell Mason, of Swansea, to come and administer the Lord's Supper. 
Accordingly a letter was sent signed by Daniel Jenckes, Esq., Deacon Ephraim 
Wheaton, and others, bearing date June 10, 1771. To this letter the following answer 
was received: — 

Swansea, June 28, 1771. 

To the Brethren and Sisters in the town of Providence, not long since under the care 
of Elder Samuel Winsor, but now forsaken by him, we send greeting, wishing all 
grace, mercy, and peace may abound toward you all, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. 

Whereas you have sent a request for one of us to break bread among you, we laid 
your request before our church meeting ; and there being but few members present, and 
we not being able to know what the event of such a proceeding might be at this time, 
think it not expedient for us to come and break bread with you. And whereas you have 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 217 

received Mr. Manning into your fellowship, and called him to the work of preaching 
(he being ordained), we know not but by the same rule he may administer the Lord's 
Supper. But whether it will be most expedient for you to omit the administration of 
the Lord's Supper, considering the present circumstances of the case, until the Associa- 
tion (Yearly Meeting), we must leave you to judge. No more at present, but desiring 
you would seek God for wisdom to direct you in this aifair, hoping you will have the 
glory of God, the credit of our holy religion, and the comfort of his children at heart in 

all your proceedings. Farewell. 

Job Mason, / 

_, ^^ Elders. 

Russell Mason, ) 

In consequence of the above advice, the church appointed a meeting to consider 
the propriety of calling President Manning to administer ordinances to the church; 
whereupon the following resolution was formed : — 

At a meeting of the members of the Old Baptist Church in Providence, in church 
meeting assembled this 31st day of July, 1771, Daniel Jenckes, Esq., moderator: 
Whereas, Elder Samuel Winsor, now of Johnston, has withdrawn himself, and a con- 
siderable number of members of this church, from their communion with us who live 
in town ; and we, being destitute of a minister to administer the ordinances amongst 
us, have met together in order to choose and appoint a suitable person for this purpose. 
Upon due consideration, the members choose and appoint Elder James Manning to 
preach and administer the communion according to our former usage. 

To the above resolve Mr. Manning returned the following answer: — 

As the church is destitute of an administrator, and think the cause of religion 
suffers through the neglect of the ordinances of God's house, I consent to undertake 
to administer pro tempore ; that is, until there maybe a more full disquisition of the 
matter, or time to seek other help ; at least, until time maj^ prove whether it will be 
consistent with mj- other engagements, and for the general interests of religion. 

This answer being accepted, Mr. Manning was appointed Pastor 
of the church pro temjjore. The salary at first was .£50. In 1786 
this was doubled, to provide a temporary supply, Mr. Manning being 
this year in Congress. In 1788 the salary was increased to X150, one- 
third to be raised by pew tax, and the remainder by assessment on the 
private property of members of the church and society. 

At the General Meeting (Yearly Meeting) held September 20, 1771, a question was 
put, " Whether those members who withdrew with Mr. Winsor, or those in Providence, 
28 



218 BROWN UNIVEESITY Chap. V. 

be considered tlie Old Church," whereupon the brethren meeting in Providence were 
acknowledged the Old Church ; but it was agreed that the Association (Yearly Meeting) 
would hold communion with both churches so long as they walked agreeably to the 
Gospel.^ 

Thus commenced a relation, which, through various vicissitudes and 
trials, incident to the disturbed times that soon followed, continued, 
with credit to the Pastor and with great advantage to the church and 
congregation, down to a short period before Mr. Manning's death, in 
1791. At first his preaching was not attended with marked results. 
But in 1774 a remarkable revival of religion attended his labors, as the 
fruits of which one hundred and four persons were added to the church 
in the course of fifteen months. " It is delightful," says the Rev. Dr. 
Hague in his Historical Discourse, " to place ourselves in imagination 
amidst the scenes of that year, — to picture before us the able and 
faithful preacher who then officiated here as he stood up amidst the 
large assemblies of the people who thronged around him, listening, as 
they did, to the gospel with intense attention, as a message from the 
skies — the very word of God, which worketh effectually in them that 
believe, — to mark the lively interest which was kindled in every bosom 
and beamed from every eye, as one after another came forth ' on the 
side of the Lord,' and professed his faith in public baptism, — to con- 
template the fresh springs of spiritual life which were then opened in 
many a house when the family altar was first erected there, and 
parents and children bowed together to worship the Common Father 
and Redeemer in spirit and in truth." 

And now the little meeting-house, erected in 1726, was too small 
to accommodate the crowds that flocked to hear the " New Light " 
preaching of the eloquent and accomplished President of the College. 
A new house of worship was needed. The age of progress and improve- 
ment had indeed commenced. The resolute and enterprising spirit of 



1 The appointment of Manning as pastor pro tempore of the church, and the formation of a new 
church in Johnston, naturally resulted in the alienation of Elder Winsor from the College over 
which Manning presided. He continued a trustee until 1791, although his name does not appear 
in the records of the Corporation as an attendant upon the meetings after 1770. He died in 1803. 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 219 

the Browns had prevailed in the erection of the College building on the 
hill, and the same spirit was now manifest in the church. It was deter- 
mined to build another house, and with a view to the accommodation 
of the College, to construct it in such a style of elegance, and of such 
dimensions, as should surpass any edifice of the kind connected with 
the Baptist denomination throughout the country. 

In looking over the records of the Baptist Society we find that at a 
meeting held at the house of Mr. Daniel Cahoon, on Friday evening, 
February 11, 1774, it was 

Resolved, That we will all heartily unite, as one man, in all lawful ways and means 
to promote the good of the Society; and particularly to attend to and revive the affair 
of building a meeting-house, for the public worship of Almighty God, and also for 
holding Commencement in. 

"That we will all heartily unite as one man." An enterprise 
commenced in this spirit could hardly fail of success. From the tenor 
of the resolution it appears that they had previously made a movement 
for a new house. According to Staples, the town in January, 1773, 
had granted the Society a lot, sixteen rods by twenty, to be laid out 
on the site opposite Steeple Street, where in later years the Cove was 
located. It is very doubtful. Staples adds, whether the Society had any 
intention of occupying this lot. The tradition is that it then had in 
view the lot on which the present house stands, which belonged to John 
Angell, being improved by him as an orchard. Angell was a rigid 
"Gortonist;" and it was thought that he would not sell the orchard 
to be used as a site for a Baptist meeting-house, upon any consideration. 
After the aforesaid grant of the town, the Society employed William 
Russell, who had been a prominent attendant upon the Episcopal wor- 
ship, to purchase the orchard with the ostensible purpose of erecting 
upon it a private mansion. Mr. Russell afterwards conveyed it to the 
Society, who thus obeyed the injunction, " Be ye wise as serpents." 

The next meeting was held three days later at the house of Joseph 
Brown, at which Manning was chosen moderator, and James Arnold 
clerk. At this meeting it was 



220 BROWlSr UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

Resolved, That a new lot be procured on which to build a new meeting-house, pro- 
vided one can be had on suitable terms ; that Mr. William Russell be requested to 
purchase a lot for the above purpose ; that this Society will abide by and perform what- 
ever contract or contracts the said Mr. Russell shall make, respecting a lot or lots, for 
the purpose aforesaid. 

Mr. Russell lost no time in executing his commission. The orchard 
was purchased at once and conveyed to the Society. Two days later, 
February 16th, another meeting was held at the house of Joseph Brown, 
Manning being moderator, at which it was 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be presented to Mr. William Russell, for 
his very acceptable and important services to the Society in purchasing a lot of land of 
Mr. John Angell for them. 

The old house and lot were sold at public auction to John Brown 
for £420 lawful money. Of this sura <£200 were paid to the new church 
in Johnston as its "rightful share" of the proceeds. The new and 
spacious lot, bounded by what is at present Thomas Street on the north, 
Benefit Street on the east. Waterman Street on the south, and North 
Main Street on the west, was in the very centre of the population 
of the town on the east side of the bridge at that time. Meetings in 
succession were now held, at which Manning continued to preside. A 
committee of two persons, Messrs. 'Joseph Brown and Jonathan Ham- 
mond, were appointed to go to Boston " as soon as may be to view the 
different churches and meeting-houses there, and to make a memoran- 
dum of their several dimensions and forms of architecture." Mr. 
Nicholas Brown was appointed to procure of Mr. Russell a deed of the 
lot. Mr. Joseph Brown, Jonathan Hammond, and Comfort Wheaton 
were appointed to make a draft of the house ; Messrs. John Jenckes, 
Nicholas Brown, Joseph Brown, and others to procure oak timber ; and 
John Brown was to buy for the society the whole or a part of Mr. 
Amaziah Waterman's land adjoining the society's premises. At a meet- 
ing held in the meeting-house, at which Mr. Manning was moderator, 
and Benjamin Stelle served as clerk, it was 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 221 

Resolved, That a petition be presented to the Honorable General Assembly, praying 
that a charter containing certain privileges and immunities may be granted to said 
society. 

That the Rev. James Manning, Ephraim Wheaton, Nicholas Brown, David Howell, 
and Benjamin Thurber, be a commitee to draft a plan of a charter, and present the same 
to the society for approbation, as soon as may be. 

That Mr. John Brown be the Committee man for carrying on the building of the new 
meeting-house for said society. 

That Messrs. John Jenckes, Daniel Cahoon, Ephraim Wheaton, Nathaniel Wheaton, 
Daniel Tillinghast, Joseph Brown, William Russell, Edward Thurber, Nicholas Brown, 
Christopher Sheldon, and Benjamin Thurber, they or the major part of them, be a stand- 
ing committee, to assist and advise with Mr. John Brown, in locating and carrying into 
execution the building of the new meeting-house, and any other business that may be 
thought necessary during the recess of the society, and that said committee meet every 
Monday evening. 

Thus, while a large committee of eleven was chosen for assistance 
and advice, the carrying on of the building and the execution of the 
plans was wisely left to a committee of one. There was hence a unity 
of purpose, and a success in the final results, which a large and divided 
committee could never have attained. In this matter our fathers have 
left on record an example which societies of the present day may do well 
to imitate. It is pleasing to notice, in this record, the unlimited confi- 
dence reposed in the abilities and discretion of Mr. Brown. Had there 
been informers in those days of trial and peril, the large reward offered 
by the British government for the apprehension of the author of, or 
leader in, the destruction of the Graspee^ two years previous, might have 
seriously interfered with the plans of the society. 

In order to defray the additional expense of purchasing a lot and of 
building a house sufficiently large to accommodate the College, recourse 
was had to a lottery. This, as we have already remarked in a previous 
chapter, was in accordance with the universal practice of religious soci- 
eties, in Rhode Island and elsewhere, at this period.^ The lottery was 



1 It may be interesting to note the following items respecting lotteries, taken from Arnold's 
History of Rhode Island : — June 23, 1732, Lotteries suppressed by statute. Reason: " By these 
unlawful games called lotteries, many people have been led into a foolish expense of money." Nov. 



222 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap, V. 

divided into six classes, and the time and place of drawing each were 
notified in the Providence G-azette. Eleven thousand nine hundred and 
seventy tickets were sold, at prices ranging from two and one half to 
five dollars each. The sum proposed to be raised by this scheme was 
two thousand pounds lawful money, or about seven thousand dollars. 
The managers appointed by the General Assembly were Nicholas 
Brown, John Jenckes, William Russell, Benjamin Thurber, Edward 
Thurber, Nathaniel Wheaton, Daniel Tillinghast, William Holroyd, 
James Arnold, and Nicholas Power. In their announcement of June 25, 
1774, they ask for the " cheerful assistance and encouragement of the 
public, especially when it is considered that this is the first time the 
Baptist society have solicited their assistance in this way, which they can 
assure them would not now have been the case had they not purchased 
as much more land, and designed a house as much larger than the soci- 
ety required for their own use (purposely to accommodate public Com- 
mencements), as will amount to the full sum proposed to be raised by 
this lottery." 

On Monday, August 29th, was the "raising" of the new meeting- 
house, due notice of which had been given in the papers. A large 
crowd assembled, and the occasion seems to have been a general holiday 
throughout the town. 

During the following year the house was so far completed that it 
was occupied by the society. It was opened for public worship on 



28, 1744. Lottery system denounced by the legislature in 1732, now legalized. Scheme of £15,000 
allowed for Weybosset bridge in Providence. Feb. 28, 1748. Lottery granted by General Assembly 
for paving streets of Newport. Jan. 3, 1749. For relief of Joseph Fox, a prisoner for debt in New- 
port. Feb. 24, 1752. For paving streets of Newport. Oct. 28, 1753. For finishing and furnishing 
court-house at Greenwich. Aug. 23, 1756. For repairing Fort George. Dec. 24, 1758. For rebuild- 
ing court-house at Providence, and for the public library. June 11,1759. For erecting a Masonic 
hall at Newport. Feb. 23, 1761. For paving streets in Newport, and in Providence. Oct. 28, 1761. 
For building a meeting-house in Johnston, and for making a passage around Pawtucket Falls. 
March 29, 1762. For rebuilding" stores on Long wharf, Newport. June 8, 1767. For a new steeple on 
Trinity church, Newport.. Aug. 19, 1771. For a market-house in Providence. " This mode of raising 
money for all purposes, civil and religious," says Arnold " had now become so common, that scarcely 
a session of the General Assembly occurred without one or more of these grants being made." 
Oct., 1772. Lotteries for churches, including St. John's, Providence. June, 1774. First Baptist 
Church, Providence. March 24, 1777. In addition to the loan oiHce, Congress had established lot- 
teries to raise funds to sustain the credit of the Continental bUls. 



1770-1175. AND MANNING. 223 

Sunday, May 28, 1775, when President Manning preached the dedica- 
tion discourse, from Genesis xxviii. 17, — "And he was afraid, and 
said. How dreadful is this place ! This is none other but the house of 
God, and this is the gate of heaven." On Tuesday, June 6th, following, 
the raising of the steeple, which occupied nearly four days, was finished. 
The plan of this most elegant piece of architecture was taken from the 
middle figure in the thirtieth plate of Gibbs's " Designs of Buildings and 
Ornaments,^ representing the steeple of St. Martin's in the Fields, one 
of the finest churches in London. It measures one hundred and eight 
feet from the top of the tower, and one hundred and eighty-five feet 
from the ground to the top of the vane. The total height of the steeple 
is one hundred and ninety-six feet. The house itself is eighty feet 
square. The roof and galleries are supported by twelve fluted pillars, 
of the Doric order. The weight of the original bell was two thousand 
five hundred and fifteen pounds, and upon it was the following historic 
inscription : — 

For freedom of conscience the town was first planted ; 

Persuasion, not force, was used by the people ; 
This church was the eldest, and has not recanted, 

Enjoying and granting, bell, temple, and steeple. 

The significance of the concluding line of this quaint inscription is 
apparent, when we remember that in England the Chapels of Dissenters 
were not, until within a recent period, allowed to have either bell or 
steeple. In the spring of 1787 this bell was broken in ringing, and was 
recast by subscription. The work was done at the Hope Furnace, and 
on the new bell, which weighed two thousand three hundred and thirty- 
seven pounds, was inscribed: — " This church was formed A. D. 1639, 
the first in the State, and the oldest of the Baptists in America." " For 
fifty-seven years," says Arnold, in his one hundredth anniversary 
address, " this bell continued on every week day to sound its peaceful 



' An old copy of this work, stated to be the one used in building the church, was lately in the 
possession of the Messrs. Tingley. The writer has been permitted to examine it at their marble 
works on South Main Street. James Gibbs was the most eminent successor of Sir Christopher 
Wren as a church architect, and St. Martin's is one of the most celebrated of his works. For an 
account of this church, see Knight's " London Illustrated," Vol. V., page 105. 



224 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. 

reveille at sunrise, to signal the hour of noon, and at nine o'clock, like 
the English curfew, it 'tolled the knell of parting day,' while on Sun- 
days it called the people to the house of prayer and praise. It was 
remarkable for the clearness and sweetness of its tone." In March, 
1844, it was broken and recast. The work was poorly done, and in 
September following it had to be again recast. There are two inscrip- 
tions on the bell at present. The first reads as follows: — "This 
church was founded in 1639, by Roger Williams, its first pastor, and 
the first asserter of liberty of conscience." On the opposite side is 
inscribed : — 

This bell was imported from England in 1775. 

Recast at Hope Furnace, R. I., in 1787. 

Again recast, in Boston, 1844, 

By Henry N. Hooper & Co. 

With the first bell came also a clock, which, for generations, was 
to hold the position of " the town clock," for such it soon became. In 
May, 1786, Mr, John Brown was appointed a committee, as appears 
from the records, to apply to the Town Council for an allowance to the 
sexton for winding the clock. After having done service for a century 
it was stopped at noon, May 2, 1873, the black wooden dials with gilt 
figures were taken down, and a new clock with illuminated dials, the 
gift of Henry C. Packard, took its place. 

The main or front entrance of the building is on the west facing 
North Main Street. A door also opens on the north side, and another 
on the south, while fronting Benefit Street are two entrances. Thus 
on Commencement days and on other public occasions when the house 
is crowded, it can be readily and easily vacated. Mr. Joseph Brown, 
one of the "Four Brothers," and a member of the church, was the 
principal architect, and Mr. James Sumner superintended the erection 
of the steeple.^ The entire expense of the house and lot was a little 



1 Howland, in his Life and Recollections, states that in consequence of the Boston Port Bill, no 
vessel could enter the harbor. " The trade and business of the place of course was at an end, and 
hundreds of the inhabitants had to leave the town to seek a living elsewhere. Many of the 
mechanics and merchants came to this town, and a number of the carpenters and masons were 
employed to work on the First Baptist meeting-house, which was then building. One of them, Mr. 
Sumner, was the chief engineer in erecting the high steeple of that house, which has been much 
admired, and yet stands firm, though it quivered and trembled in the great September gale." 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 225 

over X7,000, lawful money, or about twenty-five thousand dollars. 
When we consider the value and scarcity of money in those days, the 
perils and dangers of a war with the mother country then impending, 
and also the small population of Providence, we are amazed at the 
genius which could conceive, and the energy, enterprise, and skill 
which could successfully complete so great an undertaking. Even 
at the present day, after the lapse of nearly a century and a quarter, 
and the increase of the population to one hundred and sixty thousand, 
the venerable structure, with its tall, graceful spire, and its spacious 
enclosure, shaded by stately elms, constitutes one of the chief attrac- 
tions of the city. In the beginning and progress of this enterprise, we 
have an illustration of the remarkable influence which Manning must 
have exerted over the people of his care. 

We may here note in passing some changes which have been made. 
For many years the basement was let as a cellar, and the house was a 
long time in reaching a finished condition. In 1787 the steeple was 
painted, and three years later sixty pews were put in the galleries. In 
1792, the Hon. Nicholas Brown, then a young man, gave two thousand 
dollars for a lot and parsonage, and liis sister, Hope, gave the painting 
of the interior of the house, with the glass chandeliers. In 1802 the 
basement ceased to be let as a cellar, and was fitted up by the church 
for its use in worship. In 1807 a singing school was formed, and the 
next year the west gallery was altered so as to accommodate a choir. 
In 1834 the organ, which for seventeen years had been desired by many 
• of the Society, was obtained through the munificence of Mr. Brown, 
who also presented the handsome clock which hangs below it. In 1832 
the one hundred and twenty-six original square pews and the aisles 
that crossed from door to door were removed, and the present long 
pews, one hundred and forty-four in number, were constructed. The 
sounding board was taken away, and the high, old-fashioned pulpit 
gave place to one of modern style. Rooms were also made in the south- 
east and northeast corners of the basement for the infant school and 
Bible class. In 1837 the vestry was reconstructed. But by far the 
greatest improvement was in the years 1857-1858, when the grounds 

29 



226 BROWN UNIYEESITY Chap. V. 

were excavated and the lecture room was enlarged at a cost of twelve 
thousand dollars. Recently, during the ministry of the Rev. Dr. T. 
Edwin Brown, an addition was built on the east side of the house. Great 
changes have also been made in the grounds. The original lot was an 
apple orchard, to which was added the land adjoining on the south, 
belonging to Amaziah Waterman. In 1791 the whole land, which 
until then had remained open, was enclosed with a fence. In 1793 
ten feet were thrown out on the east side to widen Benefit Street. For 
this the Society was allowed by the town two hundred and fifty dollars. 
In 1830 elm trees took the place of the poplars. In 1809 the yard was 
paved on the south side from the door to the gate. In 1852 a brick 
sidewalk was laid on the west front. In 1857 ten feet were taken 
from the south side to widen President, now Waterman Street. A 
strip was also taken from the west front on North Main Street. The 
straightening of North Main Street in 1868, led to a further alteration 
of the west line. The unsightly wooden buildings at the southwest 
corner of the lot, which had stood for nearly seventy years, were in 
1857 taken down, and a broad, brick sidewalk was laid on the south 
line. 

The accompanying engraving, taken from Rippon's Baptist Regis- 
ter, represents the church as it was in 1789, before any material altera- 
tions had been made in the grounds or building. It first appeared in 
the Massachusetts Magazine for August, 1789. The dwelling on the 
north was the house of the first Nicholas Brown, ^ with whom Manning 
held such intimate relations. The lane as represented in the engraving 
is now Thomas Street. A fine steel engraving in the "Documentary 
History of Brown University," represents the church as it appears to- 
day. 

Sunday morning. May 28, 1865, just ninety years after the dedica- 
tion of the house, the late Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Caldwell, then pastor of 



1 From the Record of Deeds at the City Hall, it appears that the Nicholas Brown dwelling, after 
the owner's decease, came into the possession of his brother, Moses, who in turn deeded it to his 
son, Obadiah, for a dwelling. It is now owned by Mrs. Thomas, widow of Hiram H. Thomas, and is 
occupied by the " Providence Art Club." 




First Baptist Meeting-House. 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 227 

the church, preached an historical discourse which was afterwards pub- 
lished in pamphlet form. An extract from this discourse may fitly close 
the present account : — 

You can follow the eighty-two Commencements with which this house is associated 
in the memory of so many children of the College ; you would like to review the great 
public events which have here been commemorated, — the treaty of peace in 1783, the 
adoption of the Constitution in 1790, the death of "Washington in 1800 ; the civic and 
religious occasions, when, in praise and prayer, when, in jubilee or humiliation, the 
people have here, as in some common temple, acknowledged the God of jiower and 
mercy. 

There are the common as well as uncommon days and Sabbaths ; the words of how 
many lips, once eloquent with authority and persuasion, now hushed in death. What 
a history is enclosed within these walls ! What a shadowy procession of persons and 
events going in and out here, — funerals and weddings and baptisms; sermons whose 
memory lingers yet, whose influence will never die ; and then the more spiritual and 
interior events and experiences which have passed through the souls of these three 
generations ; the souls which have here bowed to the authority of God, and melted into 
love before the Savior's cross here lifted up to faith; the vows, uttered and unuttered, 
in which they have given themselves to God and to duty ; the viewless winds of the 
Spirit breathing here, and leaving blessed fruits which ripen glorious and abundant in 
the house not made with hands ! 

At a meeting of the Society held on the 2d of May, 1774, a 
committee, of which Manning was chairman, presented a draft for a 
charter, which was adopted, and officers were elected, viz. : Moderator, 
Nicholas Brown ; Treasurer, Daniel Cahoon ; Clerk, Benjamin Stelle.^ 
The General Assembly met two days later and incorporated the peti- 
tioners as "The Charitable Baptist Society." This was the fifth 
church charter granted in the history of the Colony, the others being 
Trinity Church, Newport (1769), First Congregational, Providence 



1 Mr. Stelle, as has already been stated, was the son of the Rev. Isaac Stelle, a graduate of the 
College of New Jersey, and in 1706 the teacher of a Latin School in Providence. His daughter, 
Mary Bowen, was the second wife of Hon. Nicholas Brown, his first wife, Annie Carter, having 
died June 16, 1798. The following, which we copy from the Providence Gazette for Aug. 25, 1770, is 
interesting as a part of the record of those early days :^" Benjamin Bowen and Benjamin Stelle 
continue to make and sell chocolate by the pound, box, or hundred weight, etc. At the well known 
Apothecary's shop, just below the church, sign of the Unicorn and Mortar." 



228 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. Y. 

(1770), Second Congregational, Newport (1771), and St. John's, Provi- 
dence, (1772). The preamble to this charter describes the petitioners 
as " being the oldest Christian church in the State or Colony, and pro- 
fessing to believe that water baptism ought to be administered by- 
immersion only, and that professed believers in Jesus Christ, and no 
others, are proper subjects of the same." In this preamble, in which 
we see the guiding hand of Manning, are embodied two of the dis- 
tinctive dogmas of Baptist faith, viz, : the mode of administering the 
ordinance of baptism, and the qualifications essential in its candidates. 
The question as to priority of date, which we have discussed in the first 
part of this chapter, would seem to be settled so far as the belief of the 
Charitable Baptist Society, as here expressed, is concerned. 

At the first meeting of the Charitable Baptist Society after its 
incorporation, held on the 13th of June, there was presented a state- 
ment of principles deserving of notice. It is contained in the preamble 
to the "form of subscription for the purpose of raising a fund," and 
reads as follows : — 

Said charter doth not empower them to raise any monies for the uses specified other- 
wise than by voluntary subscriptions, contributions, legacies, and donations, which 
clause in said charter is most especially agreeable to the minds and principles of said 
Baptist church and congregation, they being the successors and descendants of the first 
Christian inhabitants of this Colony, who flee hither to enjoy, and to secure to them- 
selves and posterity, Religious, as well as Civil Liberty, more fully and amply than they 
could in any other part of the British dominions ; and being desirous therein still to 
continue and preserve inviolate that Religious Liberty, not only procured at so dear a 
rate for them by their ijious ancestors, and transmitted down through many generations 
unto the present day, but also authorized and established by Jesus Christ, the Head 
and only Law Giver to His Church, and, being a natural right, which God himself, 
the Creator and Governor of the Universe, has bestowed on every individual of the 
human race, most fully, freely, and amply to enjoy the liberty of conscience and private 
judgment in whatever refers immediately to His worship, in that He hath assured us 
that each one must give an account for himself unto God. 

Here then, says Arnold, whom we gladly quote in conclusion : — 

We have a declaration of principles which, at this day, are readily enough assented 
to by nearly all the Christian churches, but which, a century ago, were no less distinctly 



1770-1775. AND MANNING. 229 

Baptist than are the doctrines referred to in the preamble of the charter. The volun- 
tary system, the support of public worship by free gift or self-imposed taxation, in 
contrast with the legal obligations elsewhere enforced, is here clearly set forth as a 
fundamental principle of the Baptist church. The doctrine of Soul Liberty, the crown- 
ing dogma of the Reformation, which came from "Wittemberg to Rome, in the cloister 
and the cami> had roused the spirit of all Europe, while yet its true significance was 
but dimly understood, is here declared to be a natural, God-given right, to enjoy which 
the ancestors of this church had fled from Puritan ijersecution, and which their pos- 
terity are pledged to preserve. This broad doctrine, in its theological aspect, belongs 
to the Baptists as a church, as, in its political application, it pertains to Rhode Island as 
a State. ^ 

In the clear and positive enunciation of these distinctive principles, 
Manning shows himself to have been a not unworthy successor of the 
immortal Roger Williams. 



» Address delivered before the Charitable Baptist Society on the one hundredth anniversary of the 
First Baptist Church, May 28, 1875. By Hon. Samuel Greene Arnold, president of the society. 



CHAPTER VI. 

1773-1774. 

Manning's correspondence resumed — Letter from John Ryland— Augustus Toplady — 
Letter from Rev. Isaac Woodman — Request for a narrative of the College — Playful 
letter to Smith — Letter to Rev. Benjamin Wallin — Wallin's reply — Presents his 
works to the Library — Letter to Ryland — Detail of facts and instances of the ill- 
will of Congregationalists to the College— Ryland's memoranda and hints for Man- 
ning's use — Commencement for 1773 — Objections to — Remonstrance of the Senior 
Class — Diary of Solomon Drowne, a member of the class, beginning July 2, 1770, 
and giving detailed account of the Commencement exercises — Manning's charge to 
the graduates — Smith's diary — Meeting of the Corporation — David Howell elected 
a Fellow — Extract from Backus giving reasons why the Baptist churches refused to 
giA''e any more Certificates to the power that oppressed them — Meeting of the War- 
ren Association in Medfield — Circular letter on certificates — Memoranda of Man- 
ning's journey during vacation — Letter from Oliver Hart respecting his son in 
College — Letter to Ryland — Letter to Wallin — Letter to Rev. Abraham Booth — 
Letters to Wallin. 

We now resume Manning's correspondence. The following is 
Ryland's reply to his letter of Nov. 12, 1772. It will be found inter- 
esting for the account which he gives of the Rev. Augustus Toplady, 
a distinguished divine of the Established Church, and for the sug- 
gestions which he makes in regard to the honors of the College : — 

Northampton, Feb. 9, 1773. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

I have enclosed a few hints for your notice and consideration. If they are of any 
service to you, or to the cause of religion and to your College of learning, I shall be 
glad. 

I have, in the midst of the cares of a family of about sixty persons, thrown out some 
thoughts concerning matters before us ; and as you know I bear you a hearty good-will, 
I am not in any pain how you may receive and relish them. If you are that man of 
sense and honor I conceive you to be, you will like my blunt friendship better than 
drivelling flattery and nauseous palaver. (Verba sit nenia; for it is not in Dr. Sam. 
Johnson's Dictionary.) 

I have filled a whole sheet of post-demy paper, so that you have rough and enough. 
The pamphlets and sheets which accompany this are a present to yourself, unless you 



1773-1774. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 231 

think it worth while to put them in your college library, or in the fire, just as you 
please. 

If you like my mode of correspondence, and take everything in good part, I shall 
soon hear from you. I am to you, and to the interests of religion and learning under 
your care, 

A hearty and zealous friend, 

John Ryland. 

Ryland's Hints for Professor Manning's Use. 

1. In January, 1772, I sent a box of twenty-five books to the Rev. Morgan Edwards, 
at Philadelphia, by the favor and' care of Mr. Daniel Roberdean, merchant, who was 
then in London, and abode at my old lodgings, Mrs. Stephens's, No. 11, in Great St. 
Hellen's ; and was about to return to America. In a letter to Mr. Edwards I desired 
him to present some of those books to Rhode Island College, but have heard nothing 
from him, nor have you mentioned one word about the books. 

2. Mr. Wallin had no right to reproach your College as being too lavish of its honors, 
unless he meant himself, and himself only. 

3. For me to ask any of those gentlemen I nominated in my letter, whether he 
would please to accept of a degree from your College, would spoil all the honor and 
delicacy of conferring it. Its coming unsought, yea unthought of, constitutes its chief 
excellence and acceptableness to men of fine feelings. For my own part, I would not 
have given you a single farthing, or so much as a thanks, for a feather, if I had it not 
in my power with the utmost truth to say, " I neither sought it, nor bought it, nor 
thought for a moment about it." (Dr. Gill's saying on having his diploma from Scot- 
land.) 

4. By your withholding these honors from the men I so well knew to deserve them, 
and not one would have refused them, you have done your College damage in its tem- 
poral interests. My design was to serve you by attaching men of grace, learning, prop- 
erty, and influence to you. But if you do not choose it in my way, it shall be let alone ; 
for I assure you I never will ask one man whilst I live to accept of a degree. 

I could find men enough in Britain that have learning sufficient, who would snap at 
your honors for the sake of some low ends and purposes ; but their characters as ' 
divines, or their capacity or will to serve you, is nothing. In truth, I keep no such com- 
pany. I form no connection with them, nor will I whilst I live. On the other hand, 
the Rev. Augustus Toplady is the first divine of the Established Church, or indeed of 
any church in England or in Europe. He is a man of fortune, of high genius, and learn- 
ing. He is my intimate friend; and let me tell you, as a secret, of a mark of his regard 
for me. He put it to my choice, in case of his death before me, which part of his library 



232 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. 

I would have, the English, or the Latin and learned part. I chose the latter, and it is 
accordingly fixed. But I hope I shall never have the pain to accept them. He is a 
man of a prodigiously high spirit by nature, but 'tis so tempered and moderated by 
grace, and a noble and generous disposition, as renders him one of the boldest cham- 
pions for the sublime truths of the gospel in the world. We have no writer amongst all 
our divines that comes near to him in energy and grandeur of thought, rich and daring 
imagination, masculine judgment, and glowing colors of style. He is about twenty- 
nine or thirty years old, but has been educated, from sixteen years of age, in all the 
grand essentials of the gospel. He had his classical education at Westminster School, 
and his academical at the University of Dublin ; owing to an estate falling to his mother 
in Ireland, and she being obliged to go over and possess it, she took her only son, at 
sixteen, with her. Dr. Thomas Leland was his tutor. But he had the good sense and 
piety to go to the Baptist meeting on Lord's Days to hear an able preacher, now dead, 
his name Rutherford; and every year, when Mr. Toplady came over to England, he 
had the boldness and wisdom to sit under the stated ministry of Dr. Gill. He is a gen- 
erous friend to Dissenters, especially to us poor Baptists. He commenced A. B. at 
Dublin. He scorns all honors, unless conferred like grace from heaven, — " unthought 
of, unimplored." 

My other friends are of the same complexion ; therefore I will never ask one of them 
to accept of a feather from your College. Mr. Isaac Woodman, of Sutton in Leicester- 
shire, is a prince in his spirit and conduct. He is the father of our Midland Associa- 
tion, and a wise counsellor to us all. He has such a degree of modesty that he will not 
wear the feather you sent him, and wishes not to have it known on this side of the 
water. But what then? Has he done you any damage or dishonor? No. All that 
know him will revere him as a man of wisdom, benevolence, and learning in the Greek 
language and philosophy. As to damage, I will tell you. He is a man of substance, 
and has a fine library; he has no children; and you will have half, if not the whole, 
for your College when he dies. Will this hurt you? Perhaps some money into the 
bargain. And thus I should have attached others to your interests ; but you would 
not let me, in your wisdom. Just as if you knew men here better than I do, who have 
lived forty years amongst them. As to the five guineas I pay every year, 'tis for your- 
self and nobody else. 'Tis because I like your character, spirit, and principles. If you 
die, and another succeed you whom I should not approve, I will stop my hand. 

As to raising money by a lottery, I dislike it from the bottom of my heart. 'Tis a 
scheme dishonorable to the supreme Head of all worlds and of the true church. We 
have our fill of these cursed gambling lotteries in London every year. They are big 
with ten thousand evils. Let the devil's children have them all to themselves. Let us 
not touch or taste. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 233 

I sent two books to the Kev. Mr. Stillman, at Boston, last summer, by Mr. Story, 
of Boston. One of the books is a present to the library of your College. It is entitled 
"An Easy Introduction to Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy." It was written by one of 
the clearest and most condescending good-natured philosophers in the world for the 
use of my School, Mr. James Ferguson, Fellow of the Royal Society. It is adapted to 
your school-boys and junior students, to prepare them for larger treatises on the same 
subject. I should be glad to find it meet with the approbation of your learned Profes- 
sor of Philosophy. 

Agreeably to Ryland's suggestion, the College conferred on the 
Rev. Augustus Toplady the honorary degree of A. M. at the Com- 
mencement ensuing. In Manning's reply to Ryland, he speaks of 
Toplady's Treatise on Predestination, with his letter to John Wesley, 
deeming them " masterly performances." Mr. Toplady's works have 
been published in six octavo volumes, with an account of his life. 
These are to be found in the College Library. To the Christian public 
he is best known as the author of "Rock of Ages Cleft for Me," and 
"Deathless Spirit, now arise," regarded by many as two of the finest 
hymns in the English language. 

The Rev. Mr. Woodman, whom Ryland describes as "a man of 
wisdom, benevolence, and learning," " a man of substance," with a fine 
library which he would probably bequeath to the College, now begins a 
correspondence with Manning, declining the honor conferred upon him 
at the Commencement in 1770, and discouraging him from coming to 
England to solicit funds : — 

Rev. Isaac "Woodman to Manning. 

Thorp, near Leicester, Feb. 20, 1773. 
Reverend Sir: 

By the favor of Mr. Ryland I have seen the New York Association letter, and have 
had some account also of yours to him. I am glad Christ's interest under our denomi- 
nation has such a respectable footing in your parts, but sorry for the languor of religion 
in some places, whilst glad 'tis otherwise elsewhere. Amongst other things at the Asso- 
ciation, the respectful notice of Mr. Edwards gives me pleasure. 

As I am a well-wisher to the prosperity of the College, I would, if I could, advise to 
anything for its furtherance. If you were to come over, I fear your compass or scope 
30 



234 BEOWN UNIVEESITT Chap. VI. 

for soliciting visits would be very narrow. There is no reasonable hope of success 
where congregations are unable to support the interest at home, and where there may 
be a prejudice against literature : a common but not universal case amongst us. I think 
it would be in vain to attempt it, unless you have encouragement from London, Bristol, 
and a few more of our opulent congregations. 

But whether you come or not, I have long thought that a good printed narrative of 
the state of the College sent hither, to be disbursed by its friends, would be of service. 
I doubt not some fruit would spring from such seed scattered by skilful hands. 

You will be able, I hope, to let us know that our denomination in the Island, and 
especially the College, is loyal and obedient, disapproving the opposition made to 
Government in your neighborhood, if public reports of such opposition made, be indeed 
true. I am for liberty, regularly maintained. 

Should any such narrative be sent, or brought by yourself, it is to be hoped the list 
of those you have honored with degrees will not be put into every hand, or at least that 
those who particularly desire it may have their names omitted. I esteem the honors of 
the College, and am obliged to the Faculty for putting my name amongst your worthies ; 
pray please to present my grateful compliments ; but I must not own the title. 'Tis an 
honor I cannot support. For your sakes, therefore, as well as for my own, I must 
decline it. I ought to say indeed, in favor of my friends, whoever recommended me to 
your regards, they verily believed, I doubt not, that I was qualified ; and it might have 
been so had I prosecuted my beginnings ; but an inveterate headache, of above thirty 
years' standing, has disabled me from making much addition to what I set out with 
when I left Bristol. I am a hearty friend to your cause. My silence has not been from 
carelessness or ingratitude, and much less from contempt. I desired Mr. Ryland to 
make my excuse. I am not able to show the regards I wish to discover ; howbeit, I 
have friendly designs. But the honor yqu have done me would, if known, as it is not 
in my neighborhood, block up my way to serve you, which I have much at heart to do. 

I congratulate you upon your correspondence with and interest in Mr. Ryland. He 
is, I may say from long acquaintance with him, a worthy man, and a warm friend of the 
cause which he espouses. I do not know that you could have one more zealous in your 
affairs in all Old England. "With sincere and hearty wishes that the honorable and 
imj)ortant institution over which you preside may have its worthy ends answered in the 
furtherance of knowledge, virtue, and true religion, and yourself be greatly helped and 
blessed with all needful assistance in the good work of forming the minds of youth, I 
rest, esteemed and dear sir. 

Yours, affectionately, 

Isaac Woodman. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 235 

Manning's Reply. 

Providence, Nov. 26, 1773. 
Reverend and Dear Sir : 

Yours of Feb 20, 1773, came to hand last week, in company with several other 
agreeable letters from friends in England, to whom I write by this opportunity. I am 
heartily glad to hear your favorable disposition towards the College, and could 
heartily concur with you in your wishes for greater abilities to serve its interests ; 
though we have for our encouragement the commendation of the poor widow's contri- 
bution. I should think it a prodigy if all you English Baptists were friends to litera- 
ture, while the case is so far otherwise in America. But I think your good, zealous 
people are mistaken in striking against it, when kept in its proper place, — I mean in 
making it an handmaid to religion. 

I am sorry you are so scrupulous in point of confessing the honor we mean to confer 
on you, though you must be a better judge of the expediency of this, in your situation, 
than I can possibly be. But the infant state of literature in this new world, and the 
usages of the College here, lead us to conclude, from your known character, that you 
need not be so diffident of your abilities as to decline the feather, as our common friend, 
Mr. Ryland, calls it. 

The history of the rise, present state, etc., of the College, will be done in some man- 
ner, and sent to England next spring, unless Providence should prevent it ; but I wish 
it could be done by an abler hand, or that I had more leisure than my present circum- 
stances will afford for it. I know how to sympathize with you in your inveterate com- 
plaint (of the headache) ; for, -wrfiile I write, I am distressed with this pain. 

I highly prize Mr. Ryland's friendship, because I have found him a friend indeed. 
I revere his character, and place the highest confidence in him. The very small num- 
ber of friends and the great number of enemies the College has, requires the greater 
exertion of the few friends of which it can boast, in its favor. I hope to see it on a 
more respectable footing, should I live to an advanced age ; and if not, I hope posterity 
will reap great advantages from it. "With the most hearty wishes for your highest wel- 
fare, I am, 

Your friend and servant in the gospel, 

James Manning. 

N. B. — I hope those who know the little Colony of Rhode Island, and especially the 
Baptist society in it, will find that, though firm in the cause of constitutional liberty, 
we are as loyal subjects as any of which his Majesty, King George, can boast. I wish I 
could tell you more agreeable news of the state of religion among us, but it is indeed a 
dark day. Enclosed I send you a form of bequeathment, which we make use of this 
way. At Newport I find one of which I had no knowledge before. 

J. M. 



236 • BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. VI. 

Concerning Mr. Woodman, and his suggestion in regard to a nar- 
rative of the College, Mr. Ryland, under date of Feb. 9, 1773, thus 
writes to Manning : — 

My good father in the ministry, and counsellor, Mr. Isaac Woodman, is earnestly 
desirous (and with him I concur) to hear from you. A clear narration of the rise, 
progress, and present state of the College at Rhode Island, with an account of the 
methods of education in the languages, sciences, and divinity; the exercises of the 
students, and the character of those who have distinguished themselves by their dili- 
gence, improvement, and piety, — this we think to reprint and disperse through all 
England amongst our best and richest friends of all denominations, in order to solicit 
subsciptions and donations. Had you done this already, and sent about twenty honors 
to the men I named, a way would have been paved for your coming over and making 
your appearance and personal applications this next summer. But for want of these 
two preliminaries, you have prevented yourself from coming with a good prospect of 
success for this year. If you take our advice, and put it in our power to serve you by 
conciliating men's esteem and affection to your person and college, perhaps we can 
pave the way for you by next May come twelve-month, 1774; and may do Ehode Island 
some service. 

Among the Manning papers is one with the heading, " Rhode 
Island College. By President Manning." This we have published in 
our Documentary History.^ It is not such a •' narrative " as Woodman 
and Ryland in their correspondence suggest, being very brief. Most 
likely it was prepared for the Almanac and American Register, a little 
work published in New York, in the pages of which it appears. A 
copy of this Register for 1776, containing the account of the College, 
is in our possession. 

The following playful letter to his intimate friend, the Rev. Heze- 

kiah Smith, shows that Dr. Manning could be merry, as well as serious. 

Indeed, he was noted above most men for his genial companionship and 

rare social qualities. 

Providence, May 5, 1773. 

Reverend and Dear Sir : 

This is to give you the reason why I did not visit you at Haverhill, and invite you to 
come to Providence. I set out from Providence, intending to spend a week at Boston 



1 Documentary History of Brown University, pages 19-20. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 237 

and Haverhill. We (for Mrs. Manning accompanied me) arrived at Boston Friday 
evening, and proposed to set out for Haverhill on Monday; but that and several 
succeeding days proving rainy, and Mrs. Manning being very poorly, to our very great 
disappointment, mortification, etc., we M'ere obliged to return to Providence without 
going further. Now, therefore, as I am tied to College, pray take Mrs. Smith, and the 
heir apparent,* and the new chaise, ^ and come and take your station for a week or two 
on the hill of Providence, where I will insure you excellent water, the best my house 
affords, and our good company. Pray, what more would you have? H anything is in 
my power to render the visit still more agreeable, depend on it, you sha'n't be want- 
ing it. 

I have made a tour into the hither parts of Connecticut this vacation, and preached 
fifteen times in fourteen days; seven of them in Presbyterian meeting-houses. What 
do you think of that? See what it is to be catholic like me, while you, with brandish- 
ing weapons, take the field of Mars like an old veteran that scorns to let his sword rust. 
Good success to you, if you must draw. I have received a packet from England, and 
our good friend Rev. John Ryland is angry enough because we did not give degrees to 
the gentlemen he recommended, and says that we have lost by it greatly. How happens 
it that not one scholar, through your influence, comes from you to our College? I fear 
you don't exert yourself. We have no late news from the westward. Friends here are 
generally well, and very desirous to see and hear Mr. Smith, as are your good friends at 
New London. Mrs. Manning joins in love to you and Mrs. Smith, as, also, to all our 
good friends at Haverhill, with, dear sir, 

Yoi^r unworthy brother, 

James Manning. 

Dr. Manning now begins a correspondence with the Rev. Benjamin 
Walhn, a prominent Baptist minister of London, and a gentleman of 
reputed wealth. He was also a religious writer of some note. "The 
Christian Life Described," "Discourses on various subjects," "Parable 
of the Prodigal Son," "Evangelical Hymns and Songs," and various 
other works by him are to be found upon the shelves of the College 



'Their infant son, born March 12, 1772. 

2 It is said that Mr. John White, a wealthy merchant, was the only person in Haverhill in 1764, 
when Mr. Smith first went there, who owned a chaise. It was a large, heavy-wheeled, square- 
topped vehicle, used only "to ride to meeting in" on Sundays, and on great and important occa- 
sions. Later on Mr. Smith being a man of means and consequence, had a chaise, in which he was 
accustomed to journey from Haverhill to Providence and the Jerseys. Hence the allusion. 



238 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VL 

Library, a gift from the author. Under date of May 18, 1773, Manning 
thus writes : — 

Dear Brother : 

From Mr. Philip Freeman, of Boston, I received your agreeable present on the third 
inst., and having perused with much satisfaction the several pieces, especially the 
Tribulation, I am rejoiced to find that it is not " another gospel." Had I capacity, to 
Vi^hich I make no pretentions, to examine Mr. Wallin's productions with the eye of a 
critic, I feel no disposition, be assured, to do it. I import annually a few books from 
London, principally for the youth under my care, and should have sent for some of your 
publications ; but as Mr. Backus has them by him, I have thus far deferred doing this, 
not wishing to interfere in any way with him. I should be glad to know whether you 
designed the books as a present to me personally, or to the College Library, that I may 
retilrn you thanks in a proper manner. In either case I am greatly obliged, and heart- 
ily thank you therefor. 

The executors of Dr. Gill have followed the laudable example of Dr. Stennett, and 
made us a present of his works, which we deem a most valuable donation. These acts 
encourage us to hope for similar favors from our friends in Europe. Should any benevo- 
lent person be disposed to make a useful donation to our Library and at a loss to know 
what books to choose, allow me to suggest the works of good Mr. Bunyan, than which 
none would be more acceptable. 

Mr. Edwards has been your substitute for the gentlemen as desired. Through 
Messrs. Stillman and Backus I learn that the Lord has visited you sorely in the loss of 
your only daughter. But you need not be told by me that God is a portion infinitely 
preferable to that of sons or daughters. I doubt not but you find already a strong 
attachment to this earth broken, and that God leads by the right way. The discipline 
of the rod is often necessary, at least to such perverse hearts as mine. 

Mr. Backus informs me that he has lately written to you, thus removing the neces- 
sity of my giving you a recital of affairs amongst us, or of detaining you longer than to 
crave your indulgence for obtruding upon you this letter, which assures you, dear sir, 
of the unfeigned affection of your unseen but very much obliged 

Friend and servant, 

James Manning. 

p. S. — This day received letters from several of the western provinces. Find that 
religion is at a low ebb in general there, as, alas, it is too generally amongst us. If busi- 
ness would permit, should rejoice to see a line from Mr. Wallin, by our fall ships. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. • 239 

Mr. Wallin's reply is so excellent in spirit, that no apology need be 
offered for its introduction into our present work : — 

London, July 30, 1773. 
Reverend and Dear Sir : 

Your respectful lines by Mr. Keith very much obliged me ; nor am I less indebted to 
your candor in perusing my endeavors, being sensible that they will not bear the eye 
of a critic. The disadvantages under which I was at length brought into a service con- 
scientiously declined in the very early part of my life, in consequence of which I 
deprived myself of an intended more liberal education, might plead some excuse ; and 
were you to know by what solicitation and management I was prevailed on to repeat 
my visits to the press, you would rather pity than blame me, and cover my numerous 
defects with a mantle of love. 

I thought it a venture to possess one of your character with such feeble and imper- 
fect attempts, — they are at best only fit for children in Christianity, — how, then, could 
I think of proposing them to the most infant seminary of learning? Indeed, sir, they 
were intended only as an instance of respect to yourself, to be glanced at with the 
friendly disposition you express. It would have impeached your last, had not the ingen- 
ious discourses of my much esteemed brother, the Rev. Dr. Stennett, been universally 
admired among you. As to the works of that great man, the late Dr. Gill, who was truly 
a father, they may justly be accounted a considerable acquisition. I know not, upon the 
whole, an author more judicious and consistent. The compass of his writing is aston- 
ishing, from the labors of which he now rests until the Chief Shepherd comes, when it 
will appear that our endeavors for his name shall not be in vain. 

But seeing you intimate that it may not be unacceptable, I jiresume, though with 
some reluctance, to send all I can collect of my publications, which together make ten 
little volumes, and possibly five entire pieces, and five of sermons, addresses, etc. Also 
the ordination of Rev. A. Booth, who sends a volume of the sermons of his predeces- 
sor, the late Mr. Wilson, and his own "Reign of Grace," etc. These will not be the 
less welcome for being accompanied by all the works of Mr. Bunyan, agreeably to your 
suggestion. These I present, with my most respectful compliments, to every member 
of the College, including their worthy President, the Rev. James Manning. Have you, 
sir, any stated form of bequeathment? If not, permit me to move for a concise account 
of your institution, with a direction how to describe you in a will. Such a paper, 
neatly printed and disposed, may be useful. Be not sparing of copies to your friends. 
The difference in point of expense between one or two thousand is but trifling. 

As to my own works, most of them have been out of print for some years. They are 
chiefly practical, and all very plain. The hymns, more especially, need an apology. 



240 ' BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. VI. 

They are no other than artless compositions, in which the substance of occasional dis- 
courses was drawn up in a suitable form. Such a one did not occur in our stated col- 
lection. At the time they were sung with peculiar satisfaction, the people being unac- 
quainted with the author; but at length many of them were stolen and mangled, 
which induced me, at the instance of some, to print them, and so obviate any apprehen- 
sion of a conceit that they were deserving of public notice. It is my study, both in 
preaching and in writing, to lead to those inexhaustible treasures of wisdom and com- 
fort, the Holy Scriptures ; hence the tone of my naked lines. I must observe further, 
that in order to make up the set, I was obliged to put in a volume containing my ser- 
mon on the experience of the saints, which was bound up in another. You will there- 
fore excuse a duplicate of them. 

It is long since I have heard from my very worthy and agreeable correspondent, the 
Rev. Mr. Backus. He usually much entertains me. I have often rejoiced at his 
accounts of the success of the gospel in your world, and am sorry to hear that at 
present in general it seems rather low. May the Lord of Jacob revisit it! Two things 
are threatening with us, — tbe growth of Anti-Trinitarians, in a variety of forms, for 
they cannot agree ; nor can I forbear to say that I think a dereliction of, or indifference 
to, the divine Sonship of our glorious Redeemer, has greatly contributed to the inso- 
lence of men against that foundation of the gospel. The other is a popular ignorance 
of the authority of Christ, in particular church fellowship, which some are bold enough 
to put on the footing of prudence and convenience among the disciples of Jesus. The 
one strikes at the doctrine, the other at the discipline of the gospel. But Zion is 
insured against the gates of hell. 

I am now in the eve of my ministry and life ; childless, and in a manner destitute 
of natural relation, having lost an excellent wife, two sons, and three daughters. It 
is good to be weaned from an undue attachment to the present state, but afflictions 
alone will not do it. My heavenly Father has been very gracious in helping me, I trust, 
to receive not only good at his hand, but also evil. He has given me a name and a 
place in his house better than that of sons or of daughters, and some spirit\Tal children 
who are exceeding affectionate and dutiful. 

May your valuable life be long spared, and all your instructions succeed to the 
advantage of mankind, and especially to the spread of the truth and the prosperity of 
Jerusalem. I remain, reverend and dear sir. 

Your obliged and truly affectionate brother, 

Benjamin Wallin. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 241 

To THE Rev. John Ryland. 

Providence, May 20, 1773. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Yours of Feb. 9, 1773, came safely to hand, by the Charlotte, Capt. Jno. Rogers, 
about the 20th of April, containing your agreeable present of pieces, letters, etc., for all 
of which I scarce need tell you I heartily thank you. You need not for the future hesi- 
tate about sending anything to me in that way, or writing with the utmost plainness to 
one who believes not in the use of ceremony, even if he were master of it. To convince 
you that I am entirely suited with your plain dealing, I have embraced the earliest 
opportunity of returning an answer. 

Your friendship to the interests of the College and religion here is very cordially 
accepted by many besides myself ; and though you thought we slighted your friend- 
ship, I can assure you it was not so meant ; I shall be glad to gratify you, and testify 
our respect for any of your friends, on every occasion. But I come to particulars. 

The books ordered here from Mr. Edwards have not come ; neither have I heard of 
them, except by your letter, though I saw Mr. Edwards at Philadelphia last October. 
He must surely have forgotten it entirely. 

I have seen Mr. Backus since I received yours, and he thinks I mistook Mr. Wallin's 
meaning, and that he intended only himself. If so, I am sorry I mentioned anything 
of the matter. Indeed, Mr. Wallin, in his last letter, which I have seen, intimated as 
much. 

I entirely agree with you respecting academical honors, and the mode of conferring 
them on gentlemen of taste ; and as you are fully satisfied that the gentlemen men- 
tioned would cordially accept them, you may be assured we shall take pi'oper care of 
that matter next Commencement, and forward the diplomas as soon as iiossible. If we 
have been tardy, I know you will forgive us. An unforgiving friend is not worth 
having. Such I do not deem my very good friend. Dr. Ryland. I am heartily sorry that 
the College should sustain damage, through what we meant only for precaution, and 
hope, if so, that it will be only tem^iorary. "We beg you not to remit an iota of your 
zeal in attaching gentlemen of grace and learning, property and influence, to the Col- 
lege. For amongst all our good friends in Britain, we consider your opportunities in 
this way, together with your zeal, as placing you foremost. 

The character of the Rev. Mr. Toplady, which you have enlarged upon, is truly a rare 
one, and I shall think the College highly honored in his accepting a feather, and indeed 
in the least expression of his friendship. 

I am sorry to hear that pious Mr. Woodman is so exceedingly modest as not to 
choose to wear his feather; but am glad to hear such a worthy character of him, and 
that he is so well disposed towards the College as to think of providing for it. May the 
31 



242 BROWN UmVERSITT Chap. VI. 

Lord possess many others with the same spirit ! I hope you may have it in your power 
to put many more in the way of leaving us some love tokens, when they are better 
employed than in enjoying terrestrial goods. This is what I have hoped for, though 
hitherto I have not seen cause to expect much from it soon. 

I am much obliged to you for the annual contribution of five guineas. I have made 
free to draw a bill for them in favor of Mr. George Keith, of London, hoping that the 
Lord may enable me to conduct worthy the Gospel, so that you may not repent the 
donation. 

Your opinion of lotteries coincides with mine ; but some of our friends urged me to 
mention the subject, as they could not see a prospect of supplies in any other way. 
Besides, I believe there have not been such iniquitous methods used in this matter, 
with us, as in the Slate lotteries at home. They have been used to promote good 
designs. 

The book from Mr. Stillman we have received, though lately, as Mr. Story did not do 
his errand to Mr. Stillman faithfully. 

I have written to Mr. Edwards Respecting the books in his hands, and expect an 
answer soon. Perhaps you may meet this in London. If so you need not mention the 
hint relative to Dr. Chauncey ; for I believe he has not yet forwarded anything of that 
nature. 

To give you a full detail of facts and instances of the ill-will of persons to the Col- 
lege^ would require " centum ora etferrea vox," as sung the poet. Dr. Stiles, of Newport, 
gave as a reason to the Corporation for not accepting a place in the Faculty, the offense 
he should give his brethren should he accept it. The manner of obtaining the Charter, 
has, by the clergy of the Congregational society, been represented as highly iniquitous. 
(But the particulars of this affair you shall have as soon as the College history can be 
completed and sent to you, together with other particulars which you request.) Those 
gentlemen of that denomination who have spoken favorably of the Institution have 
been reprimanded, as I have been credibly informed, and that by a convention, for 
showing us so much countenance as to attend the Commencement. I was lately told 
by a worthy minister of that order in Connecticut, that one of the same order in this 
town, a sour man, had done the College amazing damage by representing us as bigots, 
and our sole design to be that of proselyting to the Baptist sentiments ; and that if they 
sent their children here they never could get into any employment in that Government ; 
so that he had it not in his power to send us the scholars to whona he taught grammar, 

1 Mr. Ryland, in a letter to Manning, under date of Feb. 9, 1773, thus writes : 

" I wish you would give me a full detail of facts and instances of the ill-will of men to your 

Seminary. I would make use of them for its benefit and advantage, without hurting you in the 

least." 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 243 

though he chose it. The same zeal has been used in the neighboring jirovinces, both by 
him and others ; and both parents and tutors have repeatedly told me that everything 
except violence has been used, and almost that in some instances, to prevent them 
from sending their children here. Some of them have boasted that they have pre- 
vented persons from coming who designed it ; and few scholars come but say every 
obstacle has been laid in their way to prevent them. The characters of the teachers, 
their abilities, and the character of the place even, have been aspersed to the highest 
degree for the same purpose. But I should tire you to recite a small part of our ill- 
treatment. They know that the low state of the College fund requires considerable 
tuition money to support the teachers, and that that depends on the number of scholars. 
If, therefore, they can prevent them from coming, they know they distress us. But, 
notwithstanding what I have said of our enemies, there are many valuable men in that 
society in these parts, some of whom are friendly to the College ; but through their con- 
nections, or want of ability, few of them have it in their power to express their friend- 
ship. 

You may expect a particular account of our mode of education, and of the students, 
their characters, proficiency, piety, etc., when we send you an account of the rise, prog- 
ress, and present state of the College, which I intend to draw up as soon as I can, and 
forward it by the first opportunity. Our number of scholars is thirty, and amongst 
them are many pious, jiromising young men. Take them together, they are a set of 
well-behaved boys. I have a Latin school under my care, taught by one of our grad- 
uates, of about twenty boys. Amongst those who have left us are three eminent Bap- 
tist ministers, their age considered, and another just entered on the work, who, I am 
told, promises as fair as any of the others ; one attorney-at-law, the most eminent at the 
bar in this Colony, etc., etc. 

I thank you for the list of ministers of the Church of England, and shall be glad to 
see that of the Calvinist Baptist ministers. 

"What treatise upon fluxions do you deem the best ? The state of religion is generally 
at a low ebb amongst us. May the Lord revive it! Would your English people be 
scared at an American Indian? I remain, dear sir, your unworthy friend and brother 
in the Gospel, 

James Manning. 

Ryland's Memoranda and Hints for Professor Manning, at Rhode Island. 

1. The Calvinistical Baptist ministers in England and Wales are about two hun- 
dred ; but I have given away my printed lists, and forgot to ask Mr. Wallin for some 
more. Be so good as to mention it to him. 

2. I cannot yet procure a complete list of the Independent ministers and churches. 



244 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. VI. 

You know there are about thirty-two in London, and we have twelve or fourteen more 
in Northampton. 

3. I suppose you know that it was Dr. Stennett that procured an order from Govern- 
ment to put a stop to the oppression of the Baptists near Boston. I have not a perfect 
idea of that affair. 

4. Two young men, of good parts and sound knowledge of the learned languages, 
and men of eloquence and piety, are lately come into the ministry from Mr. Evans's 
academy in Bristol ; namely, Mr. Biggs, just going to be ordained over the Baptist 
church at Wantage, in Berkshire, and Mr. Dunscombe, at Coat in Oxfordshire, whose 
ordination is to be at the same time. You will do well to mark them down as men of 
uncommon merit, worthy of your feathers in a year. 

5. The sooner yoii send over a clear, short, printed account of your College, in its 
rise and present state, the better. I beg you would pay due and equal attention to our 
leading men, in presenting each with a copy, that no jealousy or pique against you may 
arise. You know our chief ministers. We have about thirty or forty that can read 
Greek. Let not one be forgot. If you know not all of them, I will inform you, or take 
the trouble of giving them a copy in your name. 

6. As to your visit to old England, I shall be glad to see you, and will do you all 
the service I can ; but I wish you to attach some more of our ministers to your interest 
by your pretty baubles first, and also let your account of the College come six months 
before you. 

7. As to your worthy mathematical professor, I wish him all possible success ; but 
I must not presume to assist or direct him with respect to the best book on fluxions. 
The students at our Cambridge use chiefly an abridgment of Sanderson's Algebra, an 
octavo, price six shillings; and then we have such a number of books on fluxions, so 
good that 'tis hard to' say which is the best. There are four of great note ; namely, 
Maclaurin, Ditton, Thomas Simpson, and Emerson last of all, who is now living. He 
has published a noble course of mathematical learning, in about ten or twelve octavo 
volumes. He is an amazing genius in the north of England. His Mechanics, quarto, 
fourteen shillings, and Astronomy, six shillings, I have in my study. But the lovely 
humane philosopher, and my intimate friend, is James Ferguson, F. R. S. He has just 
now assisted me to complete my optical cards, which are engraving on copper plates. 
You will, I hope, approve of them, as the easiest introduction to Optics ever seen in the 
world. By the way, Ferguson drew up the book you have in your hands with my 
name to it ; for I could not persuade him to put his own, for fear of appearing ungrate- 
ful to Andrew Miller, bookseller, who had been his friend in time of need. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 245 



CALVINISTIC BAPTIST MINISTERS IN ENGLAND WHO CAN READ THE GREEK 
TESTAMENT, ETC. " 

1. Samuel Stennett, D.D., 

2. Benjamin Wallin, 

3. William Clark, 

4. John Keynolds, 

5. Abraham Booth, 

6. Dr. Gifford, J 

1. Hugh Evans, | 

2. Caleb Evans, }. Bristol 

3. Mr. Newton, 



■ London. 



J 

1. Benjamin Beddome, Bourton, on the water, Gloucester. 

2. John Ash, Preshore, Worcestershire. 

3. Joshua Symonds, of Bedford, who has lately altered his sentiments from a Pedo- 

baptist, and honestly is come into and submitted to believer's baptism ; for 
which he is abhorred and despised by the Independent ministers. Give him 
your best honors. 

4. Daniel Turner, Abingdon, Berkshire. 

5. Mr. Robinson, of Cambridge. 
G. Philip Gibbs, of Plymouth. 

7. Morgan Jones, of Hampstead, Hertfordshire. 

8. Samuel James, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Now dying. 

9. Isaac Woodman, of Leicestershire. 

10. John Brown, of Kettering, Northamptonshire. 

11. Biggs and DuNscoMBE ; excellent scholars. 

12. Robert Day, Wellington, Somersetshire. 

13. Benjamin Fuller, Devizes. 

14. John Poynting, Worcester. 

15. John Oulton, of Rawden in Yorkshire. 

16. John Fawcett, of Wainsgate, Yorkshire; now keeps a seminary. 

17. Joseph Jenkins. 

18. Benjamin Da vies, in Wales, keeps an academy at Abergavemry, about ten 

pupils. Give him a feather. 

19. Mr. John Rippon, at Dr. Gill's meeting-house. 

20. Ryland, Sen. 

21. Ryland, Jun. 



246 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. VI. 

Among the papers on file in the College archives is one entitled, 
" A Remonstrance of the Senior Class of Rhode Island College to the 
respectable the President and the Professor of the same," bearing date 
Feb. 19, 1773. From this it appears that serious objections had been 
made to a Commencement for this year, on the ground mainly that the 
members of the class to graduate were not "orators." This objection 
was finally overruled, and the anniversary exercises of the College were 
held as usual. The following account from the diary or journal of the 
valedictorian, Doctor Solomon Drowne, is kindly furnished us by his 
grandson, the Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Drowne, of the class of 1845. The 
author was throughout life an intimate friend of President Manning, 
and as a physician, attended him in his last sickness. We shall make 
frequent mention of him in succeeding chapters. He served as surgeon 
in the Continental army from 1776 to 1780. From 1783 to 1834, 
a period of fifty-one years, he rendered his Alma Mater good service as 
a member of the Board of Fellows; and from 1811 to 1834 he was the 
Professor of Materia Medica and Botany in the University. He deliv- 
ered numerous addresses, some of which attracted attention, especially 
a funeral oration on Gen. James Mitchel Varnum, a eulogy on Wash- 
ington, and an oration in 1824 in aid of the cause of the Greeks. The 
accompanying likeness is from a photograph of a painting in the collec- 
tion in Sayles Memorial Hall. The diary begins with Drowne's 
examination for entrance into College. He was a native of Providence, 
it may be observed, his father, Solomon Drowne, being one of the 
committee to wait on President Manning upon his arrival from Warren, 
and invite him to preach for the Baptist church : — 

July 2, 1770. After examination in June, by the Rev. James Manning and Prof. 
David Howell, entered Rhode Island College. Began Horace, Longinus, and Lucian 
in October, and French in December. 1771. Recited with the first class that recited in 
the new College Building. Commenced Geography in January ; Xenophon in Febru- 
ary ; Watt's Logic in May ; "Ward's Oratory in June; Homer's Iliad in July; Duncan's 
Logic in August ; Longinus in October ; Hill's Arithmetic same month ; Hammond's 
Algebra and British Grammar in December. Appointed by his fellow students Presi- 
dent of a Society for mutual improvement, styled the " Pronouncing Society." 1772. 
Pronounced an eulogy on a fellow student. Began Ethics in January ; Euclid's Ele- 




Solomon Drowne. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 247 

ments in February, also Metaphysics, Trigonometry, and Cicero's De Oratore ; Martin's 
Philosophy in May ; Martin's Use of the Globes in August ; Hebrew Grammar in Decem- 
ber. 1773. During the latter part of March and beginning of April accompanied the Pres- 
ident on a tour to New London. Went by way of Plainfield, and returned by way of Ston- 
ington and Westerly, the President preaching in various places both going and coming. 

This is the tour to which Manning alludes in his letter to Smith 
under date of May 5, 1773 : — "I have made a tour into the hither parts 
of Connecticut this vacation, and preached fifteen times in fourteen 
days, seven of them in Presbyterian meeting-houses." Both he and 
Smith were accustomed throughout their lives to make tours of this 
kind. 

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1773. At length the day, the great, the important day, is come. 
O may it prove propitious. Now we must pass from easy College duties into the busy, 
bustling scenes of life. At about ten o'clock, the Corporation being assembled, we 
walk in procession from the College Hall to the Rev. Mr. Snow's meeting-house, where 
the President introduces the business of the day by prayer, after which Nash addresses 
the assembly in a Latin Salutatory oration ; then follows an English oration, pro- 
nounced by Mr. Foster, upon the discovery, progressive settlement, present state, and 
future greatness of the American colonies ; which is succeeded by a syllogistic dispu- 
tation in Latin, wherein Litchfield is the respondent, and myself, Padelford, and Til- 
liughast, the opponents. After this, Tillinghast delivers an oration on politeness, 
which finishes the exercises of the forenoon. 

The afternoon exercises begin with an English oration for the Master's degree upon 
civil liberty, by Mr. Dennis. The degree of A. B. is then conferred on myself, Joseph 
Litchfield, Jacob Nash, Philip Padelford, and Henry H. Tillinghast ; and the degree of 
A. M., on Messrs. John Dennis, Theodore Foster, Samuel Nash, and Seth Read; also 
on Doct. Thomas Eyres, Secretary of the Corporation, and late of Yale College ; to 
which succeeded my valedictory oration ; and then a most solemn and pathetic charge 
by the President, to our class. The whole is concluded by prayer. 

To this account by Drowne we may add the following from the 
Providence Gazette : — • 

The young gentlemen performed their respective parts with great propriety, which 
justly procured them the universal applause of a judicious and candid audience. 

This charge of President Manning, for which we are indebted to 
Henry T. Drowne, Esq., of New York, also a grandson of Doct. 



248 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. 

Drowne, we are happy to be able to present to our readers. It shows 
the author's excellent good sense, and the value he put upon religion 
as the chief concern in life. It was first printed in the Documentary 
History of Brown University. 

Manning's Charge. 

You will naturally expect that I should express the same affectionate regard for 
your welfare, as for that of those who have before shared the honors of this College, by 
giving you a parting charge. But if I thought you would expect and imagine I would 
give it as a mere thing of course, and with unfeeling formality, I should either entirely 
omit it, or endeavor to conceive it in such terms and utter it with such tones as would 
convince you of my earnestness. But even to suggest that you were all capable of such 
unaccountable insensibility, would be highly injurious to your character, for which I 
publicly profess the most tender concern. 

With you I consider the scene now shifted, and you to have exchanged the retire- 
ment of a College, for the clamorous, or at least busy, scenes of life ; — for that agitated 
ocean on which, unless Providence is distinguishingly propitious, you may expect to 
find full exercise for all your abilities, and at last perhaps scarce weather out the 
storms, with honor and advantage, which will gather and thwart even a virtuous 
course. 

To lay down general rules and useful maxims for your future conduct, is a matter 
extremely easy; for you to adopt and apply them, untutored by experience, is not so 
easy. Experience is a kind of knowledge that is purely personal, and hence arise the 
numberless mistakes of inadvertent youth ; yet, from an attentive view of life, much 
may be learned from others, for causes similar will be productive of similar effects. 
The same course of action which has brought infamy on others, will involve you also; 
and the virtuous, useful life of others points you directly to that reputation which they 
have acquired. So far, then, success may be hoped for from wholesome lectures read to 
docile minds, and a suitable charge given to those who aim to tread the path of virtue 
and climb to solid reputation. 

The sagacious public will not only discern your quantity of capacity, but decide who 
of you have exerted yourselves to improve in knowledge ; and, small as this class is, 
and numerous as the disadvantages under which it has labored are, I am not without 
hopes of seeing at leaSt some of its members distinguish themselves amongst the sons 
of science. If a proper foundation has not been laid in your first studies to initiate you 
into the knowledge of letters, I believe you will do your instructors the justice to 
impute it to something else as the cause, rather than to their inattention to your inter- 
est or their duty. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 249 

And though a course of four years in College without forfeiting a standing by 
vicious conduct is generally thought sufficient to entitle to a degree, yet something 
more than possessing a diploma must prove that you merit it. I, therefore, charge you 
to press forward with hasty steps in the road to knowledge, and if an immature age, 
a fickle and indolent temper, or but a moderate capacity has distanced you in the race, 
let more confirmed age, future activity and redoubled diligence urge you on with a 
noble ambition at once to even outdo yourselves, and agreeably disappoint the expecta- 
tions of your friends. 

In forming your connections, as well as in all your undertakings, jiroceed with the 
utmost caution. The neglect of this has proved the ruin of thousands. Be slow to 
speak and swift to hear; be angry only when absolutely necessary, and then you will 
not be likely to exceed due bounds. Despise the narrow, contracted pi'inciple which 
actuates the selfish, and only think you deserve the character of men when you affec- 
tionately love and glow with ardor to promote the happiness of all mankind. Your 
personal wants are few, unless unnecessarily multiplied by yourselves, and conse- 
quently you may expend much on the public. 

Remember that the lowest calling in life may be honored by a proper attention paid 
to the duties of it, and that the highest may be degraded by the neglect of them. 
Aspire not, therefore, to an exalted station without conscious worth to entitle you to it, 
and an unshaken resolution to support it. Despise as well those fetters of the mind 
forged by devoted bigots to opinion, as those for the body by tyrannic princes and legis- 
latures. Challenge the glorious prerogative of thinking for yourselves in religious 
matters, and generously grant to others without a grudge what you yourselves deem 
the dearest of all blessings. 

I have a right to expect your friendship for this College, and your strenuous exer- 
tions in its just vindication, while I interdict an ungenerous partiality. Make religion 
your first, your great, your only concern. Converse intimately with death by devout 
meditation. Read with the closest attention the Scriptures of God, and by their aid 
realize the awful realities of eternity. Make them alone the standard of both your 
faith and your practice. Refute the daring, licentious infidel with a holy life, without 
which the most holy profession is both utterly incredible and unavailing. 

And should any of you assume the character of a Christian preacher, I warn you 
to beware of touching this sacred ark with unhallowed hands. Remember the awful, 
ever memorable fate of those who offered strange fire ; such will yours be, except your 
hearts are purified with the faith of the Gospel. Finally, we must all meet at the tribu- 
nal of the Supreme Judge, to hear the decisive sentence according to our characters. 
May this, my dear pupils, be to you an introduction into everlasting joy. 
32 



250 BROWN UNIVERSITY Ghap. VI. 

Smith in his diary, writes thus of this Commencement week. He 
preached, it will be observed, the usual sermon Wednesday evening : — 

Mon. Aug. 10, 1773. Set out for Providence in Rhode Island Government. Got 
there on Tuesday. John Duncan went vrith me. Wed. Sept. 1. Attended the Com- 
mencement. Five took their degrees. Preached a sermon in the evening from Titus 
ii. 14. Thurs. 2. Met with the Corporation of Rhode Island College. Sab. 5. Preached 
a sermon in the Baptist meeting-house, from Luke iv. 18, and in the afternoon at Mr. 
Snow's meeting-house, from 1 John iii. 2. It was a funeral discourse. Mon. 6. Went 
to Attleborough. Tues. 7. Went to Medfield and met in Association, when it was 
determined by a great majority not to carry in any more certificates. 

At this meeting of the Corporation, which was attended by fourteen 
Trustees and six Fellows, Prof. David Howell was elected a Fellow in 
the room of the Rev. John Davis, deceased. This' position he held 
until his death in 1824, a period of fifty-one years. During a part of 
this time, from 1780 until 1808, he served as Secretary. Among the 
votes passed, was one directing Edward Thurston, Jr;, to procure from 
England a copper plate, agreeable to a form prescribed by the Fellow- 
ship for conferring degrees by diplomas, and that one hundred of said 
diplomas be struck off at the same time from said plate. From the 
records it appears that Capt. William Rogers, of Newport, father of the 
" first student," had bequeathed to the College the sum of £200, lawful 
money. The salary of Professor Howell was increased to <£90, lawful 
money. 

In regard to "certificates," to which Smith in his diary refers, 
Backus, in his Church history thus states the matter : — 

In September, 1772, the author was chosen an agent of the Baptist churches in Mr. 
Davis's room ; and the following events took place among them. Though their church 
in Chelmsford had given in certificates according to law, yet they were all taxed to 
parish teachers; and in a cold season, Jan. 26, 1773, three of their society were impris- 
oned therefor at Concord, one of whom was eighty-two years old ; and they commenced 
a suit in law for recompense ; but their cases were long delayed. In Bellingham equal 
liberty was enjoyed, because there was none but a Baptist minister in the town ; but a 
number of his hearers who lived in Mendon were so much oppressed with taxes to 
other ministers, that in the three preceding years they estimated their damages at that 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 251 

account at near fifty pounds. And these and other things being laid before the Baptist 
Committee, May 5th, they advised their agent to write to all the churches, to consider 
whether it was not their duty to refuse to give any more certificates to the power that 
oppressed them, and to bring in their conclusions iipon it to their next Association. 

The Association met in Medfield on the 7th of September, and con- 
tinued in session three days. Ebenezer Hinds, of Middleborough, was 
chosen Moderator, and William Williams, of Wrentham, Clerk. Eigh- 
teen churches were represented by pastors and delegates, and three 
more churches were added to their number. The debates upon the 
great questions of the day must have been full and spirited, although 
the meagre printed minutes of four duodecimo pages contain no allu- 
sion thereto. "It was determined by a great majority not to carry in 
any more certificates," for the following reasons, among others, as stated 
b}^ Backus : — 

1. Because it implies an acknowledgment that civil rulers have a right to set up one 
religious sect above another, which they have not. 2. Because they are not represen- 
tatives in religious matters, and therefore have no right to impose religious taxes 
3. Because such a practice emboldens the actors therein to assume God's prerogative, 
and to judge the hearts of others. 

The Circular Letter has this paragraph : — 

But we are sorry to tell you, that some of our dear Brethren are denied the free 
enjoyment of that choice blessing. Liberty of Conscience, especially in this Province ; 
having many of them had their goods violently taken from them to support a way of 
worship contrary to their conscience, while others in the year past have been impris- 
oned for the same purpose in a manner that was very inhuman. 

The vacation following Commencement Manning improved by 
visiting the churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut, riding in his 
chaise from place to place, and preaching as he had opportunity. The 
following memoranda of his journey are taken from Aitkens's Ameri- 
can Register and Calendar for 1773, a copy of which was preserved 
among the family papers and books of Manning. They serve to show 
that the author's preaching services were in request, and that he thus 



252 BEOWJS" UNIVEKSITY Chap. VI. 

commended the College which he represented to the good will of the 
denomination : — 

Memoranda of ye places and times I am to preach after I set out upon my journey 
18th of September, 1773. At Attleborough, 2 o'clock; Medfield, Sabbath; Boston, Mon- 
day evening: "Wareham, Tuesday; Ipswich, Wednesday to Friday; 4 o'clock at Elder 
Harriman's ; Sabbath at Haverhill ; Monday, 4 o'clock at Chelmsford ; Tuesday, 4 
o'clock at Grafton ; Wednesday, 10 o'clock at Sutton ; 4 o'clock, at Charlton ; Thursday, 
10 o'clock at Sturbridge ; evening at Brimfield; Friday, 1 o'clock, at Wilbraham ; Sab- 
bath at Springfield; Monday, 10 o'clock, at Enfield; South Brimfield, evening; Tues- 
day, 2 o'clock, Woodstock; Wednesday, 10 o'clock, at Abington. 

President Manning, in his official relations, was not altogether 
unmindful of the wise man's injunction touching the rod. " John," to 
whom Mr. Hart refers below, was now, it seems a freshman in college. 
He had probably been one of Manning's grammar-school pupils. 
Whether he profited by the " discipline," we cannot say. As his name, 
however, appears among the graduates four years later, it is reasonable 
to draw the most favorable inferences. 

Charleston, Nov. 5, 1773. 
Dear Mr. President : 

I have hardly time to say, yours of the 6th Sept. ult., came to hand two days ago. I 
am now preparing for a journey into Georgia, very high up, in order to assist my good 
Brother Pelot in constituting a Baptist church. The Lord has greatly owned the labors 
of our young Bottford; many are converted, baptized, and are now waiting for the 
enjoyment of church privileges. This intelligence, I know, will be agreeable to you; 
more so than the account you gave of my sad boy was to me. I am sorry John has con- 
ducted so as to give you so much trouble, and to forfeit the place he had under the man- 
agement of Mr. Manning. Had I been apprised of his unworthy conduct sooner, perhaps 
I should have remanded him back to Carolina; for I am not in such afliuent circum- 
stances as to throw away money in the education of one who has no view to his own 
advantage. I thank you, however, for all the pains you have taken with him, and that 
you have made trial of the discipline of the rod. Let me entreat you unweariedly to 
exert your best endeavors for his advantage. Who knows but God may give him a 
turn ? I should be sorry he should return a worthless blockhead. When I return from 
my Georgia route, which will take me near a month, I shall use my utmost endeavors 
to remit you some more guineas. I have enough due me if I could collect it ; but cash 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 253 

was never so scarce in Carolina as at present. This is an unfavorable circumstance, 
both for you and for me. 

I should be glad to see an account of your late Commencement in print. Pray, how 
goes on the great man of Haverhill ? I have heard nothing from him for a great while 
past; and I hear almost as little about Mr. Stillman, or our affairs in Boston. How is 
Mr. Davis's place supplied? Has that church any minister? 

Could you not prevail on John to write to me ? I have received but one letter from 
him for the space of twelve months, although I have sharply reproved him for his neg- 
lect, over and over again. With kind love to Mrs. Manning, I remain. 

Yours, with much esteem, 

Oliver Hart. 

To THE Rev. John Ryland. 

PKOvroENCE, Nov. 25, 1773. 
Reverend and Dear Sir : 

Yours by Capt. Shand I received last week. I am obliged to you for the number of 
Calvinist Baptist ministers in England and Wales, and for information where I may 
procure a list of Independent ministers. 

I did not know before that it was Dr. Stennett who procured the repeal of the Ash- 
field law against the Baptists. I rejoice at the addition of Messrs. Biggs and Duns- 
combe to the number of laborers in the vineyard of our Lord. I shall remember and do 
honor to such worthy characters. 

I expect we shall be able to send over a printed account of the College the next 
spring, together with diplomas to those in England who were graduated the last fall. 
The reason of our being so tardy in this matter is, the Corporation, at their last meeting, 
ordered us to revise the form of our diplomas, and send it to England to be engraved in 
copper plate, and procure a quantity of good parchment, as we had none here fit to send 
abroad. Should you happen in London on the receipt of this, I should be glad to have 
you inspect the draught and design, and prescribe the best form of the plate, hands, etc. 

I shall pay due attention to the literary gentlemen you mentioned, when the account 
of the College is sent over, and am obliged to you for your proffered kindness in dis- 
tributing them. This I shall expect. 

I know not whether I shall ever have the pleasure of seeing your face in the flesh; 
should my life be spared, though, it would be very agreeable. However, we shall omit 
nothing which is judged agreeable or necessary to pave the way for some future personal 
solicitation in favor of our College in England, should it be thought expedient. Am 
obliged to you for the account of books on fluxions and your optical card. I doubt not 
I shall approve of it when favored with a sight. 



254 BEOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. VI. 

In company with yours I received a letter from that venerable man, Rev. Isaac "Wood- 
man, together with another testimony of his good-will toward us. He writes like an 
experienced, modest father. This letter I must answer, though I am greatly paralyzed 
with a crowd of business, and cannot do it as I would be glad to do. Also Rev. Benja- 
min Wallin, of London, sent me an agreeable letter, accompanied with all he has pub- 
lished, in ten volumes, neatly bound and gilt, with the most valuable works of John 
Bunyan, in six volumes, the Reign of Grace, by William Booth, and Wilson's Ser- 
mons — all for the College library. These I esteem valuable presents. 

Enclosed I send you the Minutes of the Association at Philadelphia, and that called 
the Warren Association, in New England. 

The last vacation I spent in riding three hundred and fifty miles, and preaching 
twenty-five times, to a number of our little Baptist churches and societies in New 
England ; many of which I had never visited before. Was cordially received, and 
importuned to repeat my visit as soon as might be. In general found religion to wear 
a promising aspect; but in many places they met with great interruption from the 
Establishment in New England. I wonder how men by human laws can establish a 
religion, and then have the eif rontery to call it Christ's kingdom ! 

I should have sent to you before this for a number of your books, but understood you 
had sent some of them to Mr. Edwards, directed to me, which I have not seen. With 
my best wishes for your welfare, lam, sir. 

Your unworthy brother in the Gospel, 

James Manning. 

P. S. — I have seen Rev. Augustus Toplady's Treatise on Predestination, with his 
letter to Rev. Jno. Wesley, and deem them masterly performances, answering well the 
character you gave him. 

To THE Rev. Benjamin Wallin. 

Providence, Nov. 25, 1773. 
Reverend and Dear Sir : 

Yours of July 30th, by Capt. Shand, together with the box of books, came safe to hand 
last week ; for which I return you many thanks, as well in the name of the Corporation 
of our College as in my own. I have not had leisure to peruse many of the pieces since 
their arrival, but from my prepossession in favor of the author, and from what I have 
read of his works, I am confident they will be highly agreeable ; so that you might have 
spared everything said by way of apology for them on that account. I am, however, 
greatly obliged to you for the information you give concerning your entering the minis- 
try, your age, situation in the world, and in the church of God, etc., etc. Your present 
of the venerable Bunyan's works were not the less welcome for being accompanied with 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 255 

the agreeable present from the Rev. Abraham Booth, of his Reign of Grace, and of Mr. 
"Wilson's Sermons. I must trouble him with a letter, too. 

We expect next spring to send over a printed account of the rise and present state of 
the College, in which we shall give an account of the manner of donations to the College 
by wills ; but lest that should come too late, I here send the name by which it is known 
inlaw, and by which it is to hold donations, until some more distinguished benefactor 
shall give it a new one, for which the Corporation have liberty in the charter. 

" Item. I give to the Trustees and Fellows of the College or University in the 
English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England in 
America, the sum of ." 

The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, last year or the year 
before, prescriljed a form of bequeathment to them, in which they say: " To be raised 
and paid by, and out of my ready money, plate, goods, and personal effects, which, by 
law, I may or can charge with the payment of the same ; and not out of any part of my 
lands, tenements, or hereditaments, and to be applied towards," etc. The particular 
design must be expressed, or it must be left to them to dispose of as they shall think 
proper. I suppose the statute of Mortmane, or that of 9tli of George II., made this pre- 
caution necessary. But as our friends in Great Britain will be always able to advise 
with those who are skilled in these matters, they will put it out of the power of any to 
defeat their benevolent intentions, after they are gone to the eternal world. Pardon my 
being so particular on this point : the loss of sundry donations to the society above 
mentioned, published in their extracts, suggested the thought. 

When our account of the College comes, we shall not be sparing in numbers to be 
distributed, as our friends judge proper. 

I wonder that Mr. Backus is behindhand with you, as he is not commonly tardy in 
this way. He is an excellent man, and though unfurnished with the knowledge of let- 
ters, has been an eminent instrument in the hands of God to spread the truth in this 
country, as well by his publications as by his preaching. He has lately published an 
appeal to the public in favor of the Baptist society in New England ; and he is now col- 
lecting materials for the history of the Baptists. I will forward Mr. Edwards's list 
by the first safe conv^eyance. 

Your information of the low state of religion amongst us is but too true ! May the 
Lord in mercy visit us. I travelled this fall about three hundred and fifty miles, and 
visited many of the Baptist churches. In several places there were, I thought, evident 
marks of the power of God attending gospel means. While on that journey I baptized 
four persons. I am sorry to hear of the decline of vital godliness in old England, and 
of the prevalence of Anti-Trinitarianism, or, if you please, infidelity. I believe no 
arguments will effectually refute that, in men of corrupt minds, short of the power of 
divine grace, for a day of which I need not solicit you to help with your prayers. 



256 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. 

I am glad to hear you express that happy degree of resignation to the will of God in 
your bereaved, afflicted state. Oh that blessed word! "Our light afflictions," etc. 
May God grant you an experience of its full import, make your last days your best, 
and late, very late, call you home from earthly labors to mansions of glory. This is 
the sincere prayer of 

Your most unworthy brother in the Gospel, 

James Manning. 

The following is a letter to the Rev. Abraham Booth, of London, 
proposing an "exchange of some letters." Mr. Booth was an eminent 
Baptist minister in his day, and an author of no little celebrity. His 
"Reign of Grace," "Pedobaptism Examined," "Apology for the Bap- 
tists," "Essay on the Kingdom of Christ," and numerous other relig- 
ious and polemical writings, may be found upon the shelves of the Col- 
lege library. Most of them were republished in 1813, in three octavo 
volumes, with a memoir of the author. An account of him, compiled 
from this memoir, is given in Rose's General Biographical Dic- 
tionary : — 

Newport, Nov. 26, 1773. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

The last week brought your agreeable present of the Reign of Grace, and the Rev. 
Mr. Wilson's Sermons, a present to our College library ; for which the Corporation 
have ordered me, in their name, to return you their thanks ; an agreeable task, as it not 
only gives me an opportunity of expressing my gratitude for the donation, but opens a 
door for me to address a gentleman and brother in Christ whose character has often 
been represented to me in so amiable a light that I should think it a happiness to 
maintain a correspondence with you, if agreeable on your part. 

It gives me peculiar pleasure to find our friends in Great Britain mindful of this 
infant Seminary. It greatly needs and most cordially accepts their patronage, and 
wishes, too, an increase of benefactors. I hope in our turn we shall show all proper 
respect to all its friends who can justly have any claim upon us. 

Should it be agreeable to you, sir, to exchange some letters, you will always find me 
ready to execute your commands, as far as I am able. May you experience in your soul 
the dominion of that grace you have so agreeably described, is, dear sir, the devout 
wish of 

Your obliged but unworthy brother, 

James Manning. 



1773-1774. AND MANNING. 257 

Under date of May 25, 1774, we find the following brief letter 
addressed to the Rev. Benjamin Wallin : — 

Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Yours of February, now before me, was very acceptable, as also the two pamphlets; 
for which I return you my hearty thanks. Hope the separation in Dr. Gill's church, 
although attended with some circumstances in themselves disagreeable, may eventiaally 
prove to the furtherance of the gospel. 

Any apology in behalf of your production, dear sir, is perfectly unnecessary. Mr. 
Booth's piece has not yet come to hand. Please to make my compliments to him, and 
to any others who may inquire after your unworthy friend. 

Mr. Backus is now raking into the rubbish of time to collect materials for a History 
of the American Baptists, and prosecutes his design with great assiduity. 

* A very considerable number of Baptists were last winter imprisoned, for the non- 
payment of their rates to the Presbyterians, in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay; — 
very ill-timed, considering their contest with the British Parliament respecting the 
right of taxation, and the measures they might have guessed would have been pur- 
sued. But, alas ! how blind are we to our own faults ! 

I expect the account of the College will be complete this summer, and hope you may 

not be disappointed in the manner of its execution. We are not accustomed to write 

for the piiblic eye. When done they will be forwarded to England with all speed. A 

grievous diarrhoea, for several months past, has put it out of my power to contribute 

my assistance, or it would have been more forward at this day. I heartily thank you 

for your good wishes for me and for the seminary, and hope the institution may prove 

a public blessing. Religion is in a flourishing state in several of the places around us, 

but low in Providence. May the Lord revive his own work. With sincere regards, I 

am, dear sir, 

Your unworthy friend, 

James Manning. 

*The Baptist committee are to meet at Boston to-morrow on this business. If no 
redress is granted from government, they will, I siippose, apply to the King and Council 
through their agents in London. 

We close this chapter with a letter to John Ryland, the last one 
which Manning was able to send him for more than two years : — 

Newport, May 27, 1774. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Though I had no letter from you by the last vessels, I cannot omit sending you a 
line. The College papers have been retarded by my indisposition through the past win- 
33 



258 ^ BROWN UNIVERSITY. Chap. VI. 

ter. An obstinate diarrlicea, for several months together, took away almost all hopes 
that I should ever recover my health, and prevented my attention to business in a great 
measure ; but through the goodness of God I am happily recovered. The Anecdotes of 
the College will be drawn up and forwarded as soon as may be, and the other papers. 
But I could not get them ready by this opportunity. This spring I received from Phil- 
adelphia your " Cause of Deism Ruined Forever," etc. ; and, according to the directions, 
forwarded one to Harvard College, Mr. Stillman, etc. Return my hearty thanks for the 
one presented me, and, in the name of the Corporation, I present their thanks for that 
given to our College library. The College is in much the same state as when I wrote 
last. Religion is on the revival in some places in New England ; but great calamities 
seem to threaten us, in consequence of the dispute relating to taxation ; and the Lord 
only knows when this dispute will end. I think it incumbent on all who have any 
interest at the throne of Grace, to employ it, both in Britain and America, that God 
would pour out his Spirit on us all, and heal the breaches sin has made. 

I have taken the liberty to draw on Mr. Ryland, in favor of Mr. John Brown, for 
five guineas, as usual. My Brother Gano has returned to New York from a tour of six 
or seven months through the Carolinas. Have not yet seen him, but am informed that 
he brings good tidings respecting the state of religion. "With great respect, I am, sir, 

Yours, etc., 

James Manning. 

We find no further mention by Dr. Manning of his " Anecdotes ' ' or 
"Narrative " of the College. His ill health at this time, the cares and 
anxieties of a pastor in seasons of a revival, and the breaking out of 
the Revolutionary War, probably prevented the completion of his liter- 
ary undertaking. It is a matter of deep regret that his papers and let- 
ters were not more carefully preserved. 



CHAPTER Vll. 

1774. 

Murmurs of political discontent — War impending — Resolutions passed at town meet- 
ings — Commencement for 1774 — Cadets, Fusileers, and United Train of Artillery — 
Barnabas Binney's remarkable valedictory address, being a plea for religious liberty 

— Afterwards published — Other members of the graduating class — Letter to 
Thomas Ustick —Meeting of the Corporation — Donation of twenty pounds sterling 
from the estate of Dr. Bernard Foskett, of Bristol — Students entering the College 
required to transcribe the laws — Copy of the laws belonging to Enoch Pond, of the 
class of 1777, with the President's signature, now preserved on file — Laws and Cus- 
toms of Rhode Lsland College in 1774 in full — Vacations — Freedom of Conscience 

— First day of the week, or Sunday — Chancellor Hopkins — Freshmen to jiay due 
respect to their Superiors — Speaking on the Chapel stage evenings — College edifice 
still in an unfinished state — Students to open their doors to the College officers — 
Required to speak in Latin in study hours — Freshmen required to kindle the fires — 
Religious basis of the College, and its liberal character seen in these "Laws and 
Customs" — Distinction between freshmen and seniors — Steward of the College — 
Rooms — Meals — Orders for the dining room — Beginning of commons — Efforts of 
Manning in resisting oppressions — Meeting of the Warren Association in Medfield 

— Resolve to send Backus to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia as the agent 
of the Baptist churches — Idea originated with Manning, and others, at the Com- 
mencement the week previous — Case stated by Backus in his diary — Plan adojjted 
by the Association for aiding the College — Extract from circular letter prepared by 
Hezekiah Smith — Certificate given to Backus by the Association — Journey to Phil- 
adelphia — Account of the meeting in Carpenter's Hall, Oct. 14, 1774 — Members of 
the Continental Congress present — Conference opened by Manning, who read a 
memorial — Result of the Conference not satisfactory at the time — Resulted event- 
ually in good — Backus's appeal to the public — How this Conference of the Baptists 
with the delegates to Congress was regarded by their opponents — Memoranda of 
texts from which Manning preached during this journey to the Jerseys — Political 
measures adopted by this first Continental Congress — Approved by the General 
Assembly of Rhode Island at a special session in December — The patriotism of the 
Colony unsurpassed by that of any other Colony. 

And now the murmurs of political discontent began to swell and 
threaten, which were soon to break forth, says the historian, " in the 
war cry of the Revolution." On the 19th of January, 1774, a town 
meeting was called in Providence, when resolutions were passed depre- 
cating "a tame submission to any invasion of American freedom;" 



260 BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. VII. 

asserting that the duty imposed by Parliament on. tea, was a tax on 
Americans without their consent ; and pledging the corporation qi the 
town, with other towns and colonies, in a resolute stand against this 
and every other unconstitutional measure, and forbidding the intro- 
duction of tea here while subject to a duty. 

At a meeting of the town held on the 17th of May following, it was 
resolved : — 

That this town will heartily join with the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and the 
other colonies, in such measures as shall be generally agreed on by the colonies, for 
the protecting and securing their invaluable natural rights and privileges, and trans- 
mitting the same to the latest posterity. That the deputies of this town be requested 
to use their influence, at the approaching session of the General Assembly of this Col- 
ony, for promoting a Congress, as soon as may be, of the Representatives of the General 
Assemblies of the several colonies and provinces of North America, for establishing 
the firmest union, and adopting such measures as to them shall appear the most effect- 
ual, to answer that important jiurpose. 

In accordance with these instructions the General Assembly, at the 
June session, appointed Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward delegates 
to a Continental Congress. This was the famous Congress which met 
in Philadelphia, to which we shall presently refer. 

Commencement this year was held for the last time in Mr. Snow's 
meeting-house. For the following full and interesting account we are 
again indebted to the Providence G-azette : — 

Wednesday last (September 7th) being the anniversary Commencement of the Col- 
lege in this town, the Hon. the Governor of the Colony, escorted by the Company of 
Cadets, under the command of Colonel Nightingale, preceded the usual procession 
from the College Hall to the Rev. Mr. Snow's meeting-house. After the President had 
introduced the business of the day by prayer, Mr. Jones pronounced the Salutatory 
Oration in Latin, upon the superior advantages which the moderns enjoy above the 
ancients, for good public speaking ; after which Mr. Foster spoke in support of this 
Thesis: — " Theatrical exhibitions corrupt the morals of mankind, and are prejudicial 
to the State;" which was opposed by Mr. Penniman. To this disputation, succeeded 
an oration, exposing the vulgar notions of apparitions, etc., spoken by Mr. Mann. An 
oration upon the necessity and great advantage of cultivating our own language, spoken 
by Mr. Dorrance, concluded the exercises of the forenoon. A syllogistic dispute, "An 



1774. AND MANNING. 261 

dictaiuina Conscientiae sunt semper optemperandaj" introduced the exercises of the 
afternoon. The thesis was defended by Mr. Dorrance; the opponents were Messrs. 
Binnej-, Foster, Jones, and Penninian ; after which Mr. Ward, one of the candidates 
for the Master's degrees, jironounced an oration upon patriotism, in which were con- 
tained many judicious observations upon the present political circumstances of the 
American Colonies. The degree of Bachelor of Arts was then conferred upon Messrs. 
Barnabas Binney, John Dorrance, Dwight Foster, Timothy Jones, Jacob Mann, and 
Elias Penniman. The degree of Master in Arts was conferred on Messrs. Thomas 
Arnold, Kanna Cosset, Benjamin Farnham, Thomas Ustick, and Samuel Ward, alumni 
of the College. The Hon. Joshua Babcock, of Yale College, the Rev. Isaac Skillman, 
Mr. Benjamin Steele, of Nassau Hall College, and Mr. John White, Jr., of Harvard Col- 
lege, were also admitted to the degree of Master in Arts in this College. The Rev. 
David Jones, Rev. William Vauhorn, and Mr. William Tillinghast, were admitted to 
the honorary degree of Master in Arts. The President then addressed the Bachelors 
with a concise and pertinent charge, to which succeeded the valedictory oration, by 
Mr. Binney, being a plea for religious liberty, corroborated by ecclesiastical history, 
after which the President concluded the exercises of the day by prayer. 

The account in the Gazette further adds, that " the Company of 
Cadets, in uniforms, made an elegant and truly military appearance, 
and both in the procession and manoeuvres, which they performed on 
the College Green, procured universal approbation, and convinced the 
spectators, that Americans are no less capable of military discipline than 
Europeans." This company, says Staples, had been incorporated in 
1744, as an Artillery Company. In June, 1774, they assumed the 
name of the Cadet Company, by permission of the General Assembly, 
and were commanded by a colonel. At the same session, June, 1774, a 
Light Infantry company was also incorporated. Soon after this a 
Grenadier company was formed. This was chartered in October, and 
in December following, the Providence Fusileers, and another company 
of Artillery. In April, 1775, the Fusileers and Artillery were united 
and formed into the United Train of Artillery, which is a flourishing 
company to-day. The Crazette of Dec. 18, 1775, says : " Not a day 
passes, Sundays excepted, but some of the companies are under arms ; 
so well convinced are the people that the complexion of the times ren- 
ders a knowledge of the military art indispensably necessary." 



262 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIL 

Mr. Binney, who was graduated on this occasion with the valedic- 
tory honors of his class, was the son of Capt. Barnabas Binney, of Bos- 
ton. In early youth he discovered a ready and prolific genius, which 
gave promise of usefulness in the clerical profession. But the liberality 
of his ideas, says his biographer, rendered it difficult for him to attach 
himself to any particular sect, and hence he could never be prevailed 
upon to assume the vows and duties of a professed teacher of religion. 
He therefore perfected himself in the various branches of medicine, 
and finally established himself as a physician in the city of Philadel- 
phia. Here he died June 21, 1787. During the war, from 1780 to 1781, 
he was senior surgeon in the Continental army hospital. His son, the 
late Hon. Horace Binney, LL. D., ranked among the most distinguished 
lawyers and jurists of the Pennsylvania bar. His sister Avis, it may be 
added, was married in 1785, to Nicholas Brown, to whom we so frequently 
refer in these early annals. Mr, Binney's valedictory oration, which was 
immediately published,^ was universally regarded as a splendid produc- 
tion. After the usual addresses, it discussed fully the politics of that 
eventful period, and was listened to with the most profound attention. 
The merits of this production were greatly enhanced in the delivery by 
the gracefulness of the orator, and the uncommon elegance of his 
manners. 

Judge Dorrance, of Providence, was a member of this class. He has 
the honor of being the first librarian of the College, having been 
appointed in his senior year. He was also a tutor two years, and from 
1798 until 1813, a member of the Board of Trustees. Dwight Foster, 
whose name also appears in this connection, was a brother of the Hon. 
Theodore Foster, of the class of 1770. He settled as a lawyer in Brook- 
field, Mass., and acquired distinction in his profession. He was a mem- 
ber of Congress six years, and from 1800 to 1803 was a member of the 
United States Senate. 



'^ A copy is still preserved in the University library. The following is the title: "An Oration 
delivered on the late public Cominencement at Rhode Island College, in Providence, September, 
1774; being a plea for the right of private judgment in religious matters, or for the liberty of 
choosing our own religion ; corroborated by the well-knovsm consequences of priestly power ; to 
which are annexed the valedictions of the class then first graduated. By Barnabas Binney, A.B. 
Boston : 1774." The oration, with the illustrative notes, makes a small quarto of forty-four pages. 



1774. AND MANNING. 263 

The following letter, directed to " Thomas Ustick, schoolmaster, New 
York," has reference to this Commencement. Mr. Ward, we observe, 
delivered an oration for the Master's degree, but the other candidates 
for this honor took no part in the public exercises. 

Providence, May 30, 1774. 

Sir: — This is to let you know that Messrs. Ward and Arnold, your classmates, 
spent this evening with me to determine their Commencement exercises, and they 
desired me to ask you what you propose to do for Commencement, when you expect to 
be at Providence to prepare, etc., etc. These things you are desired to answer by the 
first opportunity. I had from Ashford in Connecticut, this day, an application for a 
Baptist minister. I mentioned you to them ; and desire you to confer with Mr. Gano 
on the subject, that he may bring over word, when he comes. Their start for a Baptist 
minister is a new thing ; but they subscribed last week near £500 lawful money towards 
building a meeting-house. The town is large and rich, and lam told that full one third 
have declared for the Baptists ; and that, in case they can get a minister of abilities, it is 
the general opinion that much above half the town will attend the meeting, though 
there are three parishes in it. The richest men are on our side, and they say they 
believe in supporting the minister handsojnely. "What say you of visiting them, at 
least, as soon as you can with convenience? I want you to send me, by the first opisor- 
tunity, two dozen grammars, and I will satisfy you for your trouble. Show this to Mr. 
Gano, and tell him we expect him over very soon, and also Mrs. Gano and the children, 
to spend the summer with us. Tell them not to disappoint us. All are well with us, 
and at Middleborough. Mr. Hinds went from here this day. Enclosed I send two pro- 
posals, etc., which I received this evening from poor Boston. Please hand them to Mr. 
Gano, to use as he thinks proi^er. It is now almost midnight, and I can hardly see ; 
besides, I have told Mr. Gano all I know in a letter written since I received any from 
him, or I would write him now. There are thirty-five or thirty-six students in College, 
and many of them fine young men. Tell friends they are remembered by 

James Manning. 

The meeting of the Corporation was held on the day of Commence- 
ment and adjourned until the next day, Thursday, September 8th. 
Among those present we notice the familiar names of Nathan Spear, of 
Boston, John Gano, Hezekiah Smith, Samuel Stillman, the brothers 
Nicholas and Joseph Brown, Job Bennet and Nicholas Eyres. Mr. John 
Jenckes was chosen a Trustee in the room of Judge Daniel Jenckes, 
recently deceased. Mr. John Brown, "Merchant," was now chosen 



264 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. 

Trustee in the room of William Brown, of Swansea, who resigned. 
The thanks of the Corporation were voted to Mr. Nathan Spear for his 
generous donation of ten pounds, lawful monej^, for the increase of Pro- 
fessor Howell's salary ; also to the Rev. Messrs. Hugh Evans and Benj. 
Beddome, of Great Britain, for their generous donation of j£20 sterling, 
out of the effects left in their hands "with discretionary powers " 
of the last will and testament of Dr. Bernard Foskett. Dr. Foskett 
was Principal of the Bristol Academy, where Evans, Beddome, John 
Ryland, Morgan Edwards, and other distinguished Baptist divines 
received their education. ? 

Among the requirements for admission to Rhode Island College in 
its early days was one obliging every student to transcribe the laws 
and customs thereof ; which copy, signed by the President, was to be 
the evidence of his admission, and to be kept by him while an under- 
graduate. This was the requirement of the College of New Jersey 
when Manning was a student, as we have stated in our first chapter. 
During the present year, 1774, fifteen, says Judge Pitman in his 
Alumni Address, entered the Freshman class ; eight of these were 
from the Latin School in Providence, under the tuition of the Rev. 
Ebenezer David, of the class of 1772, "one of the best instructors," 
says one of the eight, "I have ever known." One of this Class was 
the Rev. Enoch Pond, of Wrentham, Mass., who took his Bachelor's 
degree in 1777. Many years ago, after the publication of the writer's 
Life of Manning, a member of Mr. Pond's family sent to the Library 
his copy of the College Laws, with the corrections and signature of the 
President. The date on the cover is March, 1774. At the end is the 
following : — " Having perused the above I find them to correspond 
to the copy. James Manning, President." As Montesquieu well 
remarks, "the character of institutions, and alike of nations, is best 
known from their laws." Having in our first chapter introduced some 
of the " Laws and Customs -" of the College of New Jersey, we now, 
making use of Mr. Pond's copy, publish for the first time the " Laws 
and Customs " of our own Rhode Island College, which naturally are 
based upon those of New Jersey. 



1774. AND MANNING. 265 

Laws and Customs of Rhode Island College, 1774. 
1st. That the hours of study, between the fall and spring vacations, shall be from 
morning prayers, one hour before breakfast; from 9 o'clock a. m. until 12 o'clock; from 
2 o'clock p. M. until sunset ; and from 7 until 9 in the evening. Between the spring 
and fall vacations, one hour after morning prayers; from 8 o'clock A. m. until 12 
o'clock; from 2 o'clock p. m. until G; and no one shall be out of his Chamber after 9 
o'clock in the evening. 

These are similar to the hours of study during President Wayland's 
administration. 

2d. That every student attend prayers in the Hall morning and evening, at 7 
o'clock between the fall and spring vacations, and at 6 o'clock between the spring 
and fall vacations in the morning; and at 6 o'clock and sunset in the evening, during 
which they shall behave orderly and decently. 

These vacations, as specified in the laws of 1783, were as follows: — 
"From September 6th to October 20th; from December 24th to Jan- 
uary 24th ; and from the first Monday in May three weeks ;" that is, 
six weeks in the fall, four weeks in the winter, and three weeks in the 
spring. The summer term commenced about the first of June and 
continued until Commencement in September. In these later days it 
seems almost impossible to teach, preach, study, or even to do business 
during the warm season, when everyone who can hies to the mountains 
or seashore. In the catalogue for 1843, when the writer entered Col- 
lege, the announcement for vacations reads as follows : — "The first 
term begins on the Friday after Commencement (which was held on the 
first Wednesday in September) and continues until December 14th, 
fourteen weeks, when it is succeeded by a vacation of three weeks. 
The second term commences January 5th, and continues till April 4th, 
thirteen weeks, when it is succeeded by a vacation of four weeks. The 
third term commences May 3d, and continues to July 25th, twelve 
weeks, when it is succeeded by a vacation till Commencement." 

3d. That every student attend public worship every Fir.st Day of the week steadily, 
at such place as he, his parents, or guardians, shall think proper ; provided that any 
who do not attend with officers of instruction, produce vouchers, when demanded, of 
their steady and orderly attendance. 

■a 



266 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. 

N. B. Such as regularly and statedly keep the seventh day as the Sabbath, are 
exempted from this law, and are only required to abstain from secular concerns which 
would interrupt their fellow students. 

Here, again, we have "freedom of conscience." The law for the 
attendance on public worship during President Wayland's administra- 
tion, reads as follows : — "The right of Christians of every denomina- 
tion to enjoy without molestation their religious sentiments, is fully 
allowed; nevertheless, as the public observance of the Sabbath is a 
moral duty, at the beginning of each term every student shall designate 
to the President or other officer named by him, some place of public 
worship which he chooses to attend, and he shall attend such place of 
worship on the forenoon and afternoon of every First Day of the week." 
During subsequent administrations, the law reads thus : — " All stu- 
dents of this University are strictl}'^ required to attend public worship 
twice on the Sabbath. For this purpose each one shall report to the 
President at the beginning of every term, the church which he will 
attend." 

4th. That no student boarding in commons, go out of the College yard on the First 
Day of the week, unless to public worship ; but that the whole of the day be observed 
by abstaining from all secular concerns, recreations and diversions. 

The First Day of the week, or Sunday, was no holiday in Manning's 
estimation. Later laws are similar. In the laws as published in 1835 
we read: — "Every student is required on the Sabbath day to refrain 
from the usual exercises and diversions, from playing on instruments of 
music, except to perform a part in sacred psalmody, and from anything 
which is unbecoming the retirement and sacredness of the day." 

5th. That when any student attends any religious society whatever, he behave with 
suitable gravity and decency. 

6th. That no student read any book in study hours, excepting the classics, or those 
which tend to illustrate the subject matter of his recitations for the time being. 

7th. That each one continue in his room in the hours of study, unless to do an 
errand, in which he shall be speedy: or to attend recitations. 

8th. That no one enter another's room without first knocking at the door and 
obtaining liberty. 



1774. AND MANNING. 267 

9th., That no student make any stay in any room, or meddle with anything in it 
belonging to the occupants, in their absence, without license. 

10th. That each one attend recitation twice in a day, at such time and place as shall 
be appointed. 

11th. That no one practise attending upon company in his room in study hours ; or 
keep spirituous liquors in his room without liberty obtained of the President. 

12th. That no student at any time make any unnecessary noise or tumult, either in 
his room or in the entries; but that each one endeavor to preserve tranquillity and 
decency in words and actions at all times. 

13th. That no one, when in another's room, meddle with or examine his books and 
writings. 

14th. That no one be absent from any collegiate exercises without first rendering 
his excuse to his instructors, or go out of the College yard in the time of study, without 
liberty. 

15th. That if any one do damage to the College edifice, or the goods of others, he 
shall repair the same. 

16th. That no student wear his hat within the College walls, excepting those who 
steadily attend the Friends' Meeting. 

17th. Nor when speaking to, or is spoken to, or is in company with, any officers of 
instruction, except he is permitted by them to put it on. 

Chancellor Hopkins, who was Manning's constant adviser in all 
matters pertaining to the College, doubtless assisted in the framing of 
these Laws and Customs. He was a member of the Society of Friends, 
and attended their worship. 

IStli. That no one pass by any of the Corporation, or officers of the College, with- 
out showing them proper respect. 

19th. That due respect be paid to those of a superior standing by inferiors, by giving 
them the precedence and choice of seats. 

This is in accordance with the laws of the College of New Jersey, 
which required Freshmen to go on errands, give the highest place to 
Seniors, if spoken to give a direct answer, with the word, Sir, at the 
end thereof, and to abstain from wearing a gown. See Chapter I., 
pages 30, 31. 

20th. That each student treat the inhabitants of the town and all others with whom 
they converse with civility and good manners. 



268 BEOWIS" UNIVERSITY Chap. VIL 

21st. That each one observe strictly the rules of morality in general, transgressions 
of which shall be punished according to their nature and aggravating circumstances. 

22d. That no one play at cards or any unlawful games, swear, lie, steal or get 
drunk, use obscene or idle words, strike his fellow students or others ; or keep com- 
pany with persons of a known bad character, or attend at jjlaces of idle and vain 
sports. 

23d. That the conduct of each student with respect to morality or good manners in 
the vacation, shall be cognizable equally as when present at the College. 

24th. That no student, during the time of recitations, suggest anything to his 
classmates ; or by any other means interrupt their attention. 

2.5th. That every evening two shall pronounce on the stage, beginning with the 
Senior Class, and proceeding down alphabetically through all the classes. 

This custom was kept up, with certain modifications, down to nearly 
the close of President Wayland's administration. In the writer's day 
it \7as customary for one member of the Senior, or Junior class, to 
deliver after evening prayers an original oration, or essaj^, on the stage. 
The Hon. Tristam Burges, in an address before the Federal Adelphi, 
thus alludes to this custom in his day : — " You all remember the ele- 
vated, advanced stage where the speaker took his stand, when, under 
the supervision of the authority, surrounded by the entire collegiate 
assembly, awed by the continued and pervading spirit of the hour and 
the occasion, he gave utterance to his own, so soon as the last echo of 
the voice of devotion had ceased to whisper in the ear of the listening 
audience. It was not to all the assembled Greeks, it was not at the 
Olympic Games that he spoke ; but the pupil who passed through this 
ordeal under the eye of Manning or Maxcy, has never since that time, 
with more anxiety prepared himself for any other, or gone through it 
with more fear and trembling." The laws for 1835 read: — " One stu- 
dent from each of the two upper classes shall declaim in the Chapel, 
every evening, immediately after prayers." 

26th. That on the first "Wednesday of every month, each student shall publicly pro- 
nounce an oration, which he shall have previously committed to memory. 

27th. The Senior and Junior classes shall each of them write a Dispute every week 
and read the same, upon such subjects as shall be appointed them. Latin Syllogistic 
Disputes are to be kept up and duly cultivated. 



1774. AND MANNING. 269 

28th. That no student make use of any boards, timber, or any other materials 
belonging to the College edifice, for any purpose whatever, without first obtaining lib- 
erty from the committee for that purpose. 

The College edifice was still in an unfinished state, and hence mate- 
rials, as here described, were stored in the building or packed up in the 
yard. 

29th. That every student in College shall take particular care of fire, not carrying 
it needlessly out of their rooms in pipes or otherwise ; that they carefully cover or 
quench their fii-es when they retire to bed or leave their rooms ; and that they cause 
their respective chimneys to be swept out every year. 

;30th. That no student stay beyond the limited term of vacation, or any other term 
allowed him to be absent from College. 

olst. That a weekly bill be kept in rotation, beginning and proceeding alphabeti- 
cally, by all except the Senior class; in which shall be noted inattendance at prayers, 
unbecoming conduct there, or any breach of the laws of College, of which the monitor 
shall take strict notice. 

o2d. That a Quarterly Monitor shall be appointed, who shall take the weekly bills 
after they are examined, and take a particular account of all the transgressions which 
shall not be excused; and this bill shall be produced at the quarterly examination 
before the gentlemen who may attend the same, as matter of conviction against those 
who shall be tardy and deficient. He shall also collect the fines and deliver them to 
the President. 

33d. And that none may imagine that the ofticers of instruction desire any benefit 
to themselves from the fines arising from the transgressions of the laws, it is declared 
that all the money so arising shall be converted into premiums, to be awarded to those 
who shall excel at the public examination, always observing that the premiums of each 
class shall be made up of the fines of the class. 

34th. That no student refuse to open his door when he shall hear the stamp of the 
foot or staff at his door in the entry, which shall be a token that some ofiicer of instruc- 
tion desires admission ; which token every student is forbid to counterfeit or imitate 
under any pretence whatever. 

The law of the College of New Jersey reads : — " The President, or 
Tutors, when not admitted into a room, may signify their presence by 
a stamp, which signal no scholar shall imitate on penalty of five shil- 
lings, proclamation money. (Six shillings to the dollar.) 



270 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIL 

35th. That the Quarterly Monitor shall take an account of the fines imposed, and 
render his account and deliver the money to the President at each quarter day, which 
shall be proposed as premiums for each class at the end of the ensuing quarter. 

36th. That in the hours of study no one speak to another in the College, or College 
yard, except in Latin. 

Were this rule enforced to-day, profound silence, in the words of a 
witty critic, would reign throughout the College halls. Latin, a cen- 
tury and more ago, received far more attention than now. This same 
rule is repeated in the laws enacted in 1783. Rule 27, it will be noticed, 
requires Latin Syllogistic Disputes to be kept up and duly cultivated. 
At most of the early Commencement exercises there was a Latin Dis- 
putation, and Latin Theses were printed in the programmes, as we have 
before stated, even until near the close of Messer's administration. 
The school first established by Manning in Warren was called a " Latin 
School." 

37th. That the Freshmen Class, in alphabetical order, kindle a fire seasonably before 
morning prayers, in the room where they are attended, during the winter season. 

No wonder that the Freshmen sought to be promoted, and rejoiced 
when they were advanced to a higher class. One of the laws of the 
College of New Jersey required that " every Freshman sent of an 
errand shall go and do it faithfully and make quick return." One of 
the traditions of Rhode Island College, and of the University in the 
days of Messer, is that the Freshmen were expected to wait upon the 
Seniors. The custom, it is said, was broken up when a bright Fresh- 
man, having been sent by a Senior with a dollar bill to the store near 
by for some smoking tobacco and a pipe, returned with ninety-nine 
pipes and one cent's worth of tobacco. 

38th. That the penalties annexed to the foregoing laws shall be proportioned to the 
nature, circumstances, and aggravations attending the several offences. After ijrivate 
admonition the pecuniary penalties shall be from two pence, lawful money, to three 
shillings. The highest and last, excepting for absence from College, shall be six shil- 
lings, or a dollar, after which they shall be publicly admonished before the College and 
Corporation, which, proving ineffectual, the offenders shall be rusticated, or suspended, 



1774. AND MANNING. 271 

from all connection with the College, after which degraded, if judged necessary. For 
the last and concluding punishment they shall be totally and forever expelled from the 
College. 

39th. As it is an incumbent duty on all the instructors of youth faithfully to guard 
and solemnly to warn them against the most distant approaches to vice and licentious- 
ness, as well as to inculcate the principles of virtue and religion; and as infidelity, or 
the denial of the authenticity of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as 
appears from fact as well as from obvious reasoning, has a direct tendency to frustrate 
this most important design, the grand object in view of the founders of this Institution, 
as appears from the Charter, which enacts that Christians of every denomination shall, 
without the least molestation in the peculiarities of their religious principles, enjoy 
free liberty, etc.,— 

40th. In order, therefore, that youth of every denomination of Christians, who have 
resorted or who may resort here for education, may not in any wise be molested in the 
free enjoyment of their peculiarities in religious sentiments and Christian faith, by 
ridicule, sneers, scoffing, infidel suggestions, or any other means which tend to harass, 
disquiet and render them uneasy during their residence at College. 

41st. It is ordered and enacted, that if any student of this College shall deny the 
being of a God, the existence of virtue and vice ; or that the books of the Old and New 
Testaments are of divine authority, or suggest any scruples of that nature, or circulate 
books of such pernicious tendency, or frequent the company of those who are known 
to favor such fatal errors, he shall for the second offense be absolutely and forever 
expelled from this College. (Young gentlemen of the Hebrew nation are to be 
exemjited from this law, so far as it relates to the New Testament and its authenticity.) 

The religious basis of the College in the days of Manning, as well 
as its liberal character, are plainly seen in these last laws, which 
in a later edition are classed as " Concerning a religious, moral, and 
decent behavior." The President evidently believed, with the Divine 
Teacher, in " Moses and the Prophets." The writings of men like 
Paine and Voltaire, which teach that "no book in the Bible was written 
before the exile," that all the books are compilations, and full of con- 
tradictions, and that " all the contradictions in time, place, and cir- 
cumstance, that abound in the books ascribed to Moses prove to a 
demonstration that those books could not be written by Moses, nor in 
the time of Moses," found no favor with him. It is a singular fact 
that at the present day, after the lapse of a century, views like those 



272 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. 

above named are endorsed by scholars, writers, and even professed 
teachers of rehgion, as the results of the " Higher Criticism," so called, 
and openly taught in many of our colleges and theological schools.^ 

42d. Whoever shall stay beyond the limited term of vacation, or the expiration of 
the time for which he had liberty to be absent, shall pay commons bill to the Steward 
in the same manner as though present, unless he shall bring a certificate from two 
reputable physicians, that his state of health wovild not admit the prosecution of his 
studies. 

43d. Ordered that the Senior Class have aiithority to detain in the Hall after 
evening prayers, such of the under classes as they shall observe breaking any of the laws 
of College, and there admonish them of such offenses, as well as correct and instruct 
them in their general deportment, correcting their manners in such minute particulars 
of a genteel carriage and good breeding, as does not come within any express written 
law of the College ; which admonitions, corrections, and instructions the delinquents 
are to receive with modesty and submission, and punctually observe. 

N. B. — But as the present Senior class does not reside in College, this authority i^ 
committed to the present Junior class. 

The distinction between Freshmen and Seniors was quite obvious 
in the olden times. It is doubtful, to say the least, whether Freshmen 
of any College would to-day receive from Seniors, " with modesty and 
submission," such admonitions as are here described. These laws are 
dated March, 1774. "The present Senior Class" above referred to, 
consisted of six members, five of whom belonged in Providence, and 
hence resided at their homes. The sixth member, Barnabas Binney, 
belonged in Boston. Being a young man of note, he made it his home 
with one of the families in town. 

44th. That the students who board in Commons, observe order in going in and out 
of the dining room, as of the hall ; that at the table each class sit together in alphabet- 
ical order, and while there behave decently, making no unnecessary noise or disturb- 
ance, either by abusing the table furniture, or ungenerously complaining of the 
provisions, etc. 

Notwithstanding which, if any are dissatisfied they may mention it decently to the 



1 See Prof. Howard Osgood's paper on the " Higher Criticism," before the Baptist Congress at 
Detroit, November, 1894. Proceedings, pp. 201-206. 



1774. AND MANNING. 273 

steward in private, and if he does not redress any supposed grievance, they may then 
apply to the President. 

45tli. Those who neglect to attend at the stated meal times, shall forfeit such 
meals, unless sufiticient.reasons for their absence appear to the steward. 

46th. That the steward take special care that the laws of the dining room be 
observed, and give immediate information to the authority of the College of all trans- 
gressions of the same. 

In order that the fines imposed upon the students may be duly collected, the quar- 
terly monitor shall, at the end of the quarter, render the account to the steward of 
uncollected fines ; who shall collect the same, and upon the neglect or refusal of any 
one to pay, thej'' shall not be permitted to advance into the next class, as in case of 
non-payment of tuition. 

The steward at this time, as stated by Manning in his Sketch of 
Rhode Island College, (published in our Documentary History, pp. 19- 
21,) was Josiah Arnold. Concerning him we know nothing further. 
He was neither a graduate of the College nor a Trustee. 

47th. In order to perpetuate the infamj' of the transgressors of the laws, a book is 
purchased, in which shall be recorded all the punishments, except pecuniary, publicly 
inflicted on every delinquent, with the cause thereof ; and every student whose name 
shall be recorded therein, as a transgressor, shall be excluded from being chosen by 
the President or his class to any of the orations at Commencement; provided, how- 
ever, that by extraordinary and continued reformation, the authority erase such cen- 
.sures before the time of choosing orators. 

Concerning the Rooms, Stewards, and Commons. 

At a meeting of a number of the members of the Corporation, held 
in the College edifice, towards the close of 1773, it was proposed that 
the steward cause, 

All the rooms inhabited by the students who board in Commons, to be swept clean 
once every day, as also the entries. 

That he cause all the beds in said rooms to be decently made every day in the fore- 
noon. 

That he furnish three good meals of victuals per day sufficient for those who board 
in Commons, agreeably, or nearly so, to the following prescriptions : — 
35 



274 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. YII. 

FOR DINNER EVERY WEEK. 

Two meals of salt beef and pork, with peas, beans, greens, roots, etc., and puddings 
For drink, good small beer and cider. 

Two meals of fresh, meat, roasted, baked, broiled, or fried, with proper sauce or 
vegetables. 

One meal of soup and fragments. 

One meal of boiled fresh meat with proper sauce and broth. 

One meal of salt or fresh fish, with brown bread, for dinners. 

FOR BREAKFAST. 

Tea, coffee, chocolate, or milk porridge. With tea, or coffee, white bread with 
butter, or brown bread toasted, with butter. With chocolate or milk porridge, white 
bread without butter. With tea, coffee, and chocolate, brown sugar. 

FOR SUPPER. 

Milk, with hasty pudding, rice, samp, white bread, etc. Or milk porridge, tea, 
coffee, or chocolate, as for breakfast. 

The several articles and provisions above mentioned, especially dinners, are to be 
diversified and changed as to their succession through the week, as much as may be 
agreeable; with the addition of puddings, apple pies, dumplings, cheese, etc., to be 
interspersed through the dinners, as often as may be convenient and suitable. 

All the articles of provision shall be good, genuine, and unadulterated. 

The meals are to be provided at stated times, and the cookery is to be well and 
neatly executed. 

That the steward sit at meals with the students, unless prevented by company or 
business, and exercise the same authority as is customary and needful for the head of a 
family at his table. 

That the steward be exemplary in his moral conduct, and do not fail to give infor- 
mation to the authority of the College against any of the students who may transgress 
any of the College orders and regulations ; and to this purpose that he keep by him a 
copy of the same. 

For the services above mentioned, that the steward be allowed and paid by every 
person boarding in Commons, one dollar per week; to be paid at the expiration of each 
quarter ; if not, interest until paid. 

Ordered, That upon any person being entered into College, the steward take an 
obligation and sufficient security for the payment of his tuition, room-rent, board, and 
all College bills, and bills for necessary charges in this town, the said bills being 
approved by the President. 



1774. AND MANNING. 275 

Orders for the Dining Room. 
It is enacted by the authonty of the College in Providence : 

That those who board in Commons, upon being called to meals, shall immediately 
repair to the dining room without unnecessary noise ; and that the under classes always 
wait for those of the superior classes to go in first, provided any of them are in sight 
when at the door ; and that they observe the same decorum in returning. 

That the steward shall call on whom he thinks proper to ask a blessing and return 
thanks at table, during which no student shall meddle with any of the provisions or 
table furniture, but behave with decency and sobriety. 

That the Senior class be divided, andsome sit at one part of the table and others at 
another part; and that they, or such others as shall be ajipointed, only shall call for 
what may be wanting at table ; and all others are forbid either calling or using any 
signs of calling, except decently mentioning to the above named what is wanted; — 
and provided any person or persons shall use indecent gestures at table, or in anywise 
transgress the orders of the table, the Senior sitting at the head of the table shall imme- 
diately order him to sit next to him, that he may observe his or their future conduct 
and behavior. 

That the whole body be so divided as that a determinate number only, in succession 
through the whole, shall carve, this being done in alphabetical order ; the one next to 
him shall distribute the meat and sauce, no one else being allowed to take them him- 
self; and the same person for the day shall pour out coffee, tea, etc., and put in a proper 
quantity of sugar. 

That no one pretend to make the least waste of provisions, or carry provisions, 
kitchen furniture, etc., out of the dining-room, without special liberty from the steward 
so to do. ♦ 

Next to the steward, the persons to call for provisions as above mentioned are 
required to admonish the above delinquents at table; which proving ineffectual, to 
forthwith communicate the name of the offender, his misdemeanor, etc., to the author- 
ity of the College. 

That the present Senior class do forthwith dirSct the students how to sit, and who 
shall begin to carve, etc. ; and cause the above orders, signed by the President and 
written in a fair hand, to be posted up in the dining room. 

It would seem from this closing paragraph, that this was the begin- 
ning of Commons. Doubtless this was the case, as the building had 
only been occupied recently, and was still in an unfinished state. 
Boarding at this time, Manning states in his Sketch, was "one dollar 
a week." 



276 BKOWN UNIYERSITY Chap. VII. 

The correspondence of President Manning, as we have had occa- 
sion to state in previous chapters, abounds in allusion to the oppression 
of his brethren in Massachusetts and elsewhere, on the part of the 
"standing order." This oppression he felt called upon to resist to the 
extent of his ability. To his intelligent and active exertions in behalf 
of religious liberty, we of the present day and generation are greatly 
indebted for what we now enjoy as our birthright. 

To set forth in detail the efforts of Manning and his contemporaries 
in this direction, would require more space than can be allotted to our 
present work. For full information on the points involved in this 
controversy, the reader is referred to Backus's Church History of 
New England, to Professor Hovey's Memoir of the Life and Times of 
Backus, and to "Chaplain Smith and the Baptists." One effort of his 
demands special mention. During the present year, which was one of 
marked importance in the history of the country, the spirit of resist- 
ance to the unjust claims of England had greatly increased among all 
classes throughout the land, until it was at length determined to unite 
the separate colonies in defense of their rights. For this purpose a 
Congress of Delegates met in Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 
1774- This is known in history as the Continental Congress, to which 
Rhode Island, as we have already stated, sent as delegates Governors 
Hopkins and Ward. To this Congress it was resolved to send Mr. 
Backus, the agent of the Baptist churches in New England, to see if 
something could not be done to secure rights and liberties fron} the 
colonial governments at home, as well as from the English govern- 
ment abroad. The idea originated at the College Commencement. 
Backus in his diary thus states the case : — 

September 7tli. Went over to Providence to Commencement. Met with Mr. Gano, 
of New York, and Mr. William Van Home, of Soutli Hampton, in Pennsylvania. 
They, with Messrs. Manning and Hezekiah Smith, all were in earnest for me to go to 
the Association, and also to the Congress at Philadelphia, and represented that now 
was the most likely time to obtain our religious liberty that we had ever known. 

The Association met in Medfield, as it had the year previous, 
although the Baptist church in the place was not constituted until 



1774. AND MANNING. 277 

1776. Being central it was convenient for the churches. In the printed 
minutes, which are brief, we notice the following relating to the Col- 
lege : — "Adopted the plan proposed by the Association in Charleston, 
South Carolina, to raise a fund for Rhode Island College, viz., by recom- 
mending to every member to pay six pence sterling annually for three 
years successively to their elder, or some suitable person : This money 
to be paid to the Treasurer of the College." This shows a commenda- 
ble disposition. No large fund, however, was raised in this way. The 
members were too few and too poor to contribute largely to the support 
of an institution of learning. 

The Circular Letter to the churches was prepared by Hezekiah 
Smith. A part of it reads as follows : — 

And as it is a day of great affliction, wlien our civil rights are invaded, and our 
religious jirivileges also are in danger, we have concluded to recommend to you four 
days in the course of the ensuing year for fasting and prayer. The first on Friday 
before the last Lord's day in November ; the second on Friday before the last Lord's 
day in February; the third on Friday before the last Lord's day in May; the fourth on 
Friday before the last Lord's day in August. 

Nothing is said in the minutes respecting the Congress at Philadel- 
phia ; but the proposition to send an agent to represent the churches 
was entertained, and the following certificate was given Mr. Backus : — 

To THE Honorable Delegates of the Several Colonies in North America, 

Met in a General Congress at Philadelphia. 
Honorable Gentlemen : 

As the Anti-pedobaptist churches in New England are now heartily concerned for the 
preservation and defense of the rights and privileges of this country, and are deeply 
affected by the encroachments upon the same which have lately been made by the 
British Parliament, and are willing to unite with our dear countrymen, vigorously to 
pursue every prudent measure for relief, so we would beg leave to say that, as a distinct 
denomination of Protestants, we conceive that we have an equal claim to charter- 
rights with the rest of our fellow-subjects ; and yet we have long been denied the free 
and full enjoyment of those rights, as to the support of religious worship. Therefore 
we, the elders and brethren of twenty Baptist churches, met in Association at Med- 
field, twenty miles from Boston, September 14, 1774, have unanimously chosen and 



278 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. VII. 

sent yon the Reverend and beloved Mr. Isaac Backus, as ovir agent, to lay our case, in 

these respects, before you, or otherwise to use all the prudent means he can for our 

relief. 

John Gano, Moderator. 

Hezekiah Smith, Clerk. 

Mr. Backus, having thus been duly appointed by the Warren Asso- 
ciation, set out for Philadelphia on the 26th of September. His jour- 
ney occupied nearly a fortnight. This circumstance is here mentioned 
to show what travelling facilities were in those days, and what sacrifices 
were sometimes made by ministers who attended from a distance the 
meetings of the College and of the Associations. Upon his arrival in 
Philadelphia he immediately conferred with President Manning, and 
with the Philadelphia Baptist Association, then holding its sessions in 
that city. 

In the evening of October 14, says Backus, — 

There met at Carpenter's Hall,i Thomas Gushing, Samuel Adams, John Adams, and 
Robert Treat Paine, Esqs., delegates from Massachusetts ; and there were also present ' 
James Kinzie, of New Jersey, Stephen Hopkins, and Samuel Ward, of Rhode Island, 
Joseph Galloway, and Thomas Miflin, Esqs., of Pennsylvania, and ether members of 
Congress. Mr. Rhodes, Mayor of the city of Philadelphia, Israel and James Pemberton, 
and Joseph Fox, Esqs., of the Quakers, and other gentlemen; also Elders Manning, 
Gano, Jones, Rogers, Edwards, etc., were present. The conference was opened by Mr. 
Manning, who made a short speech, and then read the memorial which we had 
drawn up. 

This memorial, which may be found in Hovey's Memoir, after an 
eloquent plea in behalf of both civil and religious freedom, recounts in 
brief the various acts of oppression which the Baptists had suffered in 
the province of Massachusetts Bay, commencing with the charter 



1 " On the morning of the 5th of September, 1774, the ' old Congress,' as it is now familiarly 
known in our history, commenced its sessions, in Carpenter's Hall, in Philadelphia. The place hut 
ill corresponded with the real magnitude of the occasion. No tapestry bedecked its walls, no 
images of sages and heroes of other days looked down upon the scene. Yet, to one who could read 
the future, it would have presented a simple grandeur, such as we may look for in vain within the 
majestic halls of the Capitol, and amidst the imposing forms of the Constitution."— /"ro/essor 
GammelVs Life of Governor Ward. 



1774. AND MANNING. 279 

obtained at the "happy restoration." What part Manning had in. the 
drafting of it we cannot now determine. It was probably the joint pro- 
duction of several hands. The introductory plea and the closing 
remarks may very properly be attributed to his skilful pen. A copy 
was afterwards delivered to each of the delegates, together with Mr. 
Backus's "Appeal to the Public."^ The result of the conference was 
not at all satisfactory, John Adams remarking that we might as well 
expect a change in the solar system as to expect that they would give 
up their Establishment; or, as he himself gives the account,^ "they 
might as well turn the heavenly bodies out of their annual and diurnal 
courses, as the people of Massachusetts at the present da}^ from their 
meeting-house and Sunday laws." This effort of Manning and his 
associates was nevertheless the means indirectly of accomplishing great 
good. It opened the minds of the people generally to a knowledge of 
their true position and principles, and prepared the way for the aston- 
ishing increase of the Baptists,^ and for the remarkable spread of their 
sentiments throughout the land. Doubtless it was one of the important 
agencies which slowly and silently eft'ected a change in the public sen- 
timent of Massachusetts herself, until, April 1, 1834, the Bill of Rights 
was so amended, that Church and State were separated in the old Com- 
monwealth, and "Soul Liberty," as maintained by Baptists of every 
age, was finally and perfectly secured. 

How this conference of the Baptists with the members of Congress 
was regarded by their opponents, may be seen by an extract from a 
letter of President Manning, dated Dec. 2, 1774, which we quote from 
Hovey's Memoir of Backus. The writer states that the following 



1 The following is the title of this pamphlet, which Backus had prepared and published the pre- 
vious year : " An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty, against the oppressors of the present 
day. ' Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty ; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, 
but by love serve one another.' ftal. v. 13. Boston : Printed by John Boyle, in Marlljorough Street, 
1773," pp. 62. A copy of this rare pamphlet is in the library of the University. 

- See Works of John Adams, Vol. II., p. 399. 

» In 1764, when the College was founded, the Baptists in all America numbered less than seventy 
churches, with perhaps iive thousand members or communicants. The lapse of one hundred and 
thirty-two years finds them, with a single exception, the largest denomination of Protestant 
Christians in the United States, numbering nearly four millions of communicants, and represent- 
ing twenty millions of worshippers. 



•^ 



280 BKOWN UNIYERSITT Chap. VII. 

assertions in reference to said conference were made by the Rev. Dr. 

Stiles, viz. : — 

That the Baptists had made an application to the Congress against the Massachu- 
setts Bay ; that the delegates of that Province expected only a private interview with 
some of the Baptists ; but instead of that, when they came they found a house full, etc. ; 
that they were attacked and treated in the most rude and abusive manner ; that the 
Baptists pretended they were oppressed, but, after all their endeavors, they could only 
complain of a poor fourpence ; that they were ashamed of their errand, and gave up 
their point, except one or two impudent fellows, who, with Israel Pemberton, abused 
them in a most scandalous manner ; that all the delegates present were surprised at 
and ashamed of them, and thought they complained without the least foundation, etc. 

Then Dr. Stiles added : — 

When ice have the power in our hands loe loill remember them. 

In a copy of Aitken's American Register preserved among the fam- 
ily papers of Manning, we find the following memoranda of texts from 
which he preached during this journey in 1774 : — 

October 16th, at Philadelphia, John ix. 27; do., 2d Corinthians iv. 17; October 19th, 
at Nathaniel Drakes, John ix. 27; October 22d, at ye Short Hills, Acts viii. 8; October 
23d, at Lyons Farms, Galatians ii. 19; do. Johnix. 4; October 30th, at Newport, Gala^ 
tians ii. 19; do. John ix.27; November 7th, at Providence, Isaiah liv. 15; do. Isaiah liv. 
15 ; November 7th, at Mr. Foster's, Hebrews xii. 5. 

The principal measures adopted by this Continental Congress 
were : — "A Declaration of the rights of the Colonies, and a list of the 
infringements and violations of them ; " " An Address to the People of 
Great Britain;" "An Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies they 
represented;" "An Address to the Inhabitants of the Province of 
Quebec;" and "A Petition to the King." They also signed "An 
Association," binding themselves and their constituents not to import 
from Great Britain or Ireland any goods whatever, or from any other 
country any goods the growth or manufacture of Great Britain or Ire- 
land, nor any East India tea from any part of the world after the first 
day of December. 



1774. AND MANNING. 281 

The delegates from Rhode Island arrived home after the close of the 
October session of the General Assembly. A special session was there- 
fore called, which was held on the first Monday in December, to which 
they reported. Their acts were approved, and the thanks of the 
Assembly were voted them for the "faithful and spirited discharge of 
the important trust reposed in them." The act of the town of Provi- 
dence on the 17th of May, instructing its representatives in the General 
Assembly to use their exertions to have a General Congress called, was 
among the earliest, says Staples, if not in fact the earliest, movement 
of any municipal corporation in favor of a Congress at this juncture of 
affairs. And the appointment of delegates by the General Assembly, 
Wednesday, June 15th, preceded the appointment of all the other del- 
egates. The proceedings of the June session of the General Assembly 
coritain fiirthermore the earliest proposal for an Annual Congress by 
any colony or municipal corporation. The record of Rhode Island as a 
patriotic State or Colony is indeed unsurpassed by that of any other 
state or colony. 

36 



CHAPTER VIII. 

, 1775-1779. 

Providence during the first years of the War — Committee of Inspection, including 
prominent members of the Corporation, appointed by the town — Address to the 
inhabitants, March 1, 1775, in regard to the purchase and use of tea — Burning of 
three hundred pounds in Market Square — News of the battle of Lexington — Within 
two days a thousand men ready to march to the assistance of their brethren in 
Massachusetts — Special session of the General Assembly — Army of Observation 
appointed, and day of fasting and prayer — Governor Wanton deposed from office 
for disloyalty — Next meeting for the annual election of ofiicers held in Providence 
instead of Newport — Preamble and resolution of the General Assembly relating 
thereto — Richest men of the old families in Newport, Loyalists — Battle of Bunker 
Hill — Extra session of the General Assembly called — Minute men and inde- 
pendent companies drilled — Everywhere sights and sounds of war — Attack of the 
British on Bristol — Communication from the Senior class respecting the propriety 
of holding Commencement — Reply of President Manning and Professor Howell — 
No Commencement for 1775 — Prominent members of the class — Pardon Bowen — 
Robert Rogers — Meeting of the Corj^oration — Vote respecting Daniel Gano, John 
Hart, and William Edwards — January session of the General Assembly, 1776 — 
Address to the Continental Congress representing the inability of the Colony from 
its exposed situation to defend itself, and praying for assistance — Great distress 
in Providence — General Assembly in May repealed the Act of Allegiance to His 
Majesty — Virtually a declaration of independence two months before the National 
Declaration of Independence — National Declaration endorsed by the General 
Assembly, July 18th — Event celebrated in Providence July 25th — Commencement 
ior 1776 celebrated in the new Baptist meeting-house — Account from the Providence 
Gazette — Prominent graduates — Meeting of the Corporation — Petition to the Gen- 
eral Assembly to continue the College funds in the treasury of the Colony — British 
troops land and take possession of Newport — College studies suspended from 
Dec. 7,1776, until May 27, 1782 — College edifice occupied for barracks and a hos- 
pital — Number of students up to this time — Letter to Ryland giving a vivid idea 
of the war — Letter to Benjamin Wallin giving an account of the revival of 1775 — 
Wallin's reply — Letter of sympathy to Miss A. Howard — Controversial letter to 
John Berridge on Infant Baptism and Sprinkling — War of the Revolution a Church 
war — Disloyalty of the Episcopal clergy — No Commencement for 1777 — Degrees 
conferred upon seven members of the Senior class — Students recommended to 
prosecute their studies at home — Manning's position in this hour of trial as a 
man of influence, and the Pastor of the church — Anecdotes respecting — Important 
Civil function — Deplorable condition of the State — Letter to Moses Brown — Letter 
to Thomas Ustick — Letter from Judge Howell resigning his position as Professor of 
Philosophy. 



1775-1779. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 283 

In pursuance of the recommendations of the Continental Congress, 
a committee of inspection was appointed by the town of Providence, 
consisting of eighteen of the prominent citizens. Among them we 
notice the familiar names of Jabez Bowen, John Brown, Joseph Brown, 
John Jenckes, Nicholas Cooke, and Joseph Russell, all active members 
of the Corporation of the College. This committee met at the cham- 
ber of the Town Council on the third Wednesday of every month. 
At its first meeting they published a synopsis of the "Association," 
which the delegates to Congress recommended and signed. One of the 
articles of agreement by the "Association," had reference to the use of 
tea after the first day of March, 1775. As that day approached the 
connnittee issued an address to the inhabitants, beginning as follows : — 

"W^e, the Committee of Inspection, of the town of Providence, besides the notice 
we have already given for your exact conformity to the Association Agreement of tlie 
General Congress, think it our duty, at this time, when the first day of March is at 
hand, to remind you, in special, that in the third article it is solemnly agreed and asso- 
ciated, not to ijurchase or use any East India tea whatever, from and after the first day 
of March next. This measure, among others, was thought necessary to gain redress of 
those grievances which threaten destruction to the lives, liberty, and property of his 
Majesty's subjects in North America. 

In accordance with this address, the people assembled at five o'clock 
in the Market Place, on the second day of March, and burned some 
three hundred pounds of tea brought in "by the firm contenders for 
the true interests of America." A large fire was kindled, the tea, a 
tar barrel, Lord North's speech, Rivington's, Mill's, and Hicks's news- 
papers, and divers other ingredients entering into the composition of 
the bonfire. The bells of the several churches were tolled, and a large 
crowd assembled to testify by their presence their patriotism, and dis- 
position to conform to the recommendations of Congress. Such was 
the spirit which secured the liberty and final independence of the 
Colonies.^ 



1 Staples's Annals of Providence, pp. 243-244. 



284 BEOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. VIII. 

News of the battle of Lexington, says Staples, reached Providence 
on the evening of the 19th of April. On the morning of the 21st, the 
several independent companies of this and the neighboring towns, and a 
body of the militia, in all about one thousand men, had either marched 
or were in readiness to march, to the assistance of their brethren in 
Massachusetts. This must have included nearly every available man 
in Providence and vicinity capable of bearing arms. Whether any of 
the students were included in this number we are not informed. 
Without doubt they were keen observers of passing events, and took 
an interest in all patriotic proceedings. Their utterances at the first 
Commencement in Warren, were in advance of the Declaration of 
Independence. 

A special session of the General Assembly was convened at Provi- 
idence on the 22d, three days after the battle of Lexington. At 
this session, the 11th of May was set apart " as a day of fasting, 
prayer, and humiliation," and the Governor was requested to issue a 
proclamation for the same. The Assembly also passed an act for 
raising an "army of observation" of fifteen hundred men, "for the 
preservation of the liberties of America." The Governor (Joseph 
Wanton) entered his protest against this act, as a measure, using his 
own words, that " will be attended with the most fatal consequences to 
our charter privileges." He refused to issue a proclamation for a day 
of fasting and prayer, and to sign the commissions of the officers of the 
troops voted to be raised by the Assembly. For this and other acts of 
disloyalty, he was subsequently deposed from office, and Nicholas 
Cooke, the famous war Governor, was appointed in his place. This 
act, says the historian, was without precedent. There was nothing in 
the charter which authorized the Assembly thus to depose a Governor, 
nor in any law previously enacted. But this was an age of revolution. 
The circumstances of the case justified the act ; and it was warranted 
by "the fundamental principles of the constitution" of this and every 
other free government. 

At this same special session, the General Assembly passed the fol- 
lowing preamble and resolution ; — 



1775-1779. AKD MANNING. 285 

Inasmuch as there is the most apparent urgent occasion that the General Assembly 
should be holden in some place other than the town of Newport at the approaching 
annual election for the year 1775, 

It is therefore Voted and Resolved, That the General Assembly, for the election 
of general officers and for the transacting of such business as may be laid before them 
on the first Wednesday in May next, be held at the Colony House in Providence, and 
that the Secretary publish a copy of this vote in the next Newport News and Providence 
Gazette. 

The charter of the Colony required the May session of the Assem- 
bly to be holclen in Newport, "or elsewhere if urgent occasion do 
require;" and up to this time the May session had invariably been 
holden in Newport. The presence of British ships of war in the harbor 
may have been the "urgent occasion" which now required the change. 
Or it may have been the suspected disloyalty of Governor Wanton and 
of not a few of the other residents of the town. Rowland, in his 
"Recollections," says : — 

Before the Revolution, as Providence increased in population and commerce, an 
unreasonable prejudice existed in Newport against it (Providence), and when the war 
began the richest meii of the old families there were generally Loyalists. The case was 
different in Providence. Here there were none who took the side of the enemy. 

It was amidst scenes like these that the Baptist meeting-house was 
built, as we have seen in a previous chapter. It was publicly dedicated 
with appropriate services on the 28th of May. The battle of Bunker 
Hill soon followed. An extra session of the Assembly was at once 
called. Committees were appointed to take account of the arms and 
ammunition in the Colony, and report it to Congress. Saltpetre and 
brimstone were sent to the powder mills of New York. A signal post 
was established on Tower Hill, and a beacon at Providence, on Pros- 
pect Hill. The Colony was put upon a war footing, every man able to 
bear arms being required to hold himself in readiness for active service. 
A fourth of the militia were held for minute men, and drilled half a 
day every fortnight. The Independent Companies were drilled with 
them. The Army of Observation, which now numbered about seven- 



286 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. 

teen hundred men, was placed under the command of "Washington. 
Everywhere, says the historian,^ were sights and sounds of war. On 
the 7th of October, 1775, an attack on Bristol was made by Captain 
Wallace, who anchored in the harbor with fifteen sail, bombarded the 
town for an hour, discharging one hundred and twenty cannon. Much 
damage was done to buildings, the neighboring farms were plundered, 
and forty sheep were carried away. The British fleet at Newport being 
reinforced by four more vessels in search of supplies, Captain Wallace 
made a threatening demand upon the islands of Conanicut and Rhode 
Island for live stock. 

The following communication, which we copy from the Providence 
Crazette, sufficiently explains the position of affairs in reference to the 
Commencement for 1775 : — 

to the keverend president, honorable professor, and the rest of the honorable 
Corporation of Rhode Island College, — the dutiful petition of the Senior 

CLASS : 

Most worthy Patrons : — Deeply affected with the distress of our oppressed coun- 
try, which now, most unjustly, feels the haneful effects of arbitrary power, provoked to 
the greatest height of cruelty and vengeance by the noble and manly resistance of a 
free and determined people, permit us, gentlemen, to approach you with this our hum- 
ble and dutiful petition, thab you would be pleased to take under your serious consid- 
eration the propriety of holding the ensuing Commencement in a public manner, as 
usual ; whether such a celebration of that anniversary would be in conformity to the 
8th Article of the Association formed by the grand American Congress, and which all 
the colonies are now religiously executing ; and that you would be pleased to signify 
unto us your resolution respecting the same, that we may govern ourselves accordingly. 

JosiAH Read, ~\ Committee 
Andrew Law, \- in behalf of the 

James Fulton, ) Senior class. 
College in Providence, June 8, 1775. 

To this communication the President and Professor thus reply : — 

To THE Committee of the Senior Class: 

Gentlemen : — Your dutiful and reasonable petition has been duly attended to ; and 
permit us to assure you, that it gives us no small satisfaction that the present members 



Short History of Rhode Island. By George W. Greene. l'2ino. Providence, 1877 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 287 

of this Institution, and particularly the respectable Senior class, are so sensibly- 
affected with the distresses of our country in its present glorious struggles for liberty. 
We rejoice that you are so ready to sacrifice that applause to which your abilities would 
entitle you at a public Commencement; and though by this means you may be deprived 
of an advantageous opportunity to give proof of your abilities in pleading the righteous 
cause of liberty, for which your predecessors in this Institution have been justly cele- 
brated, yet you have hereby given us a convincing proof of your inviolable attachment 
to the true interests of your country. Be assured that we shall most heartily concur in 
this, and every other measure which has been, or may be, adopted by the grand Amer- 
ican Congress, as well as the Legislature of this Colony, in order to obtain the most 
complete redress of all our grievances ; and deem it the greatest honor to which a 
noble and generous mind can aspire, to contribute in any degree towards a restoration 
and reestablishment in our country of all those liberties and privileges, both civil and 
religious, which the Almighty Father of the universe originally granted to every indi- 
vidual of the human race, and which all ought to enjoy till by law forfeited; which 
reason claims, which the right of soil, obtained of the natives by free purchase, settles 
upon us ; Avhich our charters insure to us, and which have been recognized by Great 
Britain, and guaranteed to us by the faith of the English nation. These inestimable 
rights and privileges our country has for many years enjoyed, — the source of its 
present wealth and strength, more than its fertile soil or healthy climate ; by the cruel 
and wanton invasion and violation of these, she now bleeds in almost every vein ; and 
finally it is these that her noble sons, the illustrious American patriots, prompted as 
well as justified by the examples of heroes in all ages, are now prepared to defend, by 
the same means which have hitherto preserved the liberties of Great Britain, and 
raised to royal dignity the House of Brunswick. 

And though the din of arms and the horrors of a civil war should invade our hitherto 
peaceful habitations, yet even these are preferable to a mean and base submission to 
arbitrary power and lawless rapine. 

Institutions of learning will doubtless partake in the common calamities of our 
country, as arms have ever proved unfriendly to the more refined and liberal arts and 
sciences ; yet we are resolved to continue College orders here as usual, excepting that 
the ensuing Commencement, by the advice of such of the Corporation as could be con- 
veniently consulted, will not be public. 

James Manning, President. 

David Howell, Philos. Professor. 
College Library, June 9, 1775. 

In accordance with the decisions of the College authorities thus 
announced, and for the reasons assigned, there was no public Com- 



288 BKOWN UNIYEESITY Chap. VIII. 

mencement, although the graduating class consisted of ten, — a larger 
number than any heretofore. The battles of Concord, Lexington, and 
Bunker Hill had electrified the public mind, and turned away its atten- 
tion from the literary performances of the stage, to the sterner duties of 
the field and the camp. A prominent member of this class was Pardon 
Bowen, who afterwards became one of the most distinguished physicians 
of Providence. He was an active member of the Rhode Island Medical 
Society, and for seven years served as its presiding officer. From 1817 
until his death in 1826, he was a Trustee of the University. In this class 
also was Robert Rogers, who served in the war as second and first lieu- 
tenant in a Rhode Island regiment. He was afterwards principal of a 
classical school in Newport, and for twenty years was secretary, treas- 
urer, and librarian of the Redwood Library. He was elected to the Fel- 
lowship of the College in 1788, and attended, it is said, nearly every 
Commencement and meeting of the Corporation until his death in 1835. 
In this class also was Andrew Law, a clergyman, who in 1820, received 
the degree LL. D. from Alleghany College. 

The Corporation met as usual on the first Wednesda}^ in September, 
and, a quorum not being present, adjourned for one week. At the 
adjourned meeting ten young men, members of the Senior class, were 
admitted to the degree of Bachelor in the Arts. It was voted, " That 
the president write to the parents of Daniel Gano, John Hart, and Wil- 
liam Edwards, informing them, that upon their sons applying at some 
future Commencement, and passing the usual examination, together with 
their bringing recommendations of their good conduct, they may be 
admitted to the honors of this College." These parents were. Rev. John 
Gano, Manning's brother-in-law. Rev. Oliver Hart, of Charleston, South 
Carolina, and Rev. Morgan Edwards, the founder, in one sense, of the 
College. At this meeting Mr. John Brown was elected treasurer, in 
place of Col. Job Bennet, who resigned after eight years of faithful 
service. 

At the January session of the General Assembly, 1776, William 
Bradford, deputy governor, Henry Ward, secretary, William EUery, 
Joseph Brown, Henry Marchant, Sylvester Child, and Gideon Mumf ord, 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 289 

were appointed to draft " a suitable address to the Honorable the Conti- 
nental Congress, representing the inability of the Colony, from its situ- 
ation, smallness and poverty to defend itself," and praying assistance. 
Some extracts from the address drafted and adopted will be of interest 
to the reader in this connection. Describing the situation of the Colony 
the committee say : — 

Unfortunately, this Colony is scarcely anything but a line of sea coast. From Provi- 
dence to Point Judith, from thence to Pawcatuck river, is nearly eighty miles. On the 
east side of the Bay, from Providence to Seaconnet Point, and including the east side of 
Seaconnet until it meets the Massachusetts line, is about fifty miles ; besides which are 
the navigable rivers of Pawcatuck and Warren. On the west side the Colony doth not 
extend twenty miles, and on the east side not more than eight miles, from the sea coast 
above described. In the Colony are also included the following islands: — Ehode 
Island, about sixteen miles in length ; Conanicut nine ; Block Island nine ; Prudence 
seven ; and the smaller islands. Patience, Hope, and Gould Island ; all of which are 
cultivated and fertile, and contribute largely to the public expense. The greater part of 
the above mentioned shores are accessible to ships of war. 

After speaking of sliip building and commerce as the principal 
sources from which the inhabitants derived subsistence before the war, 
the address adds : — 

The convenient situation of this Colony for receiving siapplies from the other colonies 
for the Continental army near Boston, we suppose, was a principal reason why so great 
a number of the king's ships were stationed in our Bay. "We have had for above 
seven months past, two ships of twenty guns, one of sixteen, a bomb ketch, and about 
eight tenders, who have made prizes of more vessels belonging to this Colony than have 
been lost by any other ; have put almost a total end to commerce ; have committed 
repeated depredations in different parts of the Colony ; have kept our coasts constantly 
alarmed, and obliged the inhabitants to keep almost constantly under arms. The once 
flourishing town of Newport, by the loss of trade, and consequent cessation of all busi- 
ness, instead of being able to contribute to the expenses of the war, hath been reduced 
to so deplorable a state, that we have been obliged to grant money out of the general 
treasury for the support of the poor, and many of the wealthy inhabitants have not only 
left the town but the Colony. Conanicut and Prudence, lately the scenes of the most 
wanton and savage desolation and barbarity, are deserted; New Shoreham, from its 
37 



290 BROWN UNIVEESITT Chap. VIII. 

situation, is rendered worse than useless to the Colony, and the other islands will no 
longer be of service to any but the enemy, i 

In May of this year, the General Assembly repealed the act entitled 
"■"An act for the more effectual securing to His Majesty the allegiance 
of his subjects in this his Colony and dominion of Rhode Island and 
Providence Plantations." The preamble of the repealing act is as fol- 
lows, as given in Staples's Annals, to which important work we are 
indebted for many of our facts during this eventful period : — 

"Whereas, in all States, existing by compact, protection and allegiance are recip- 
rocal, the latter being only due in consequence of the former ; and whereas, George the 
Third, King of Great Britain, forgetting his dignity, regardless of the compact most 
solemnly entered into, ratified and confirmed to the inhabitants of this Colony, by his 
illustrious ancestors, and, till of late, fully recognized by him, and entirely departing 
from the duties and character of a good King, instead of protecting, is endeavoring to 
.destroy the good people of this Colony, and of all the united colonies, by sending fleets 
and armies to America, to confiscate our property, and spread fire, sword, and desola- 
tion throughout our country, in order to compel us to submit to the most debasing and 
detestable tyranny ; whereby we are obliged by necessity, and it becomes our highest 
duty, to i;se every means, with which God and nature have furnished us, in support of 
our invaluable rights and privileges, and to oppose that power which is exerted only 
for our destruction. 

The act then goes on to repeal the act referred to in the title, 
requires the name and authority of the King to be omitted in all com- 
missions and judicial processes, and that of the Governor and Company 
of the Colony to be inserted in lieu thereof. New oaths of office were 
also prescribed by the same act, omitting allegiance to the King, This 
Bct, by its terms, severed the connection between this Colony and Great 
Britain. It is virtually, says Staples, a declaration of independence ; 
and it is believed to be prior in date to any act, of a similar character 
passed by any other colony. Congress did not make its famous Decla- 



1 staples's Rhode Island in the Continental CoBgress. Edited hy Reuben A. Guild. 8vo. Provi- 
dence, 1870. Pp. 53-54. Great distress, says Ai'nold, prevailed among the poor, especially on the 
exposed islands in the Bay. Providence County received and provided for four huudi-ed of the 
poor of Newport, who were removed to Providence. 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 291 

ration of Independence until July following, two months afterward. 
The Assembly met to consider the same on the 18th of July. Of course 
the National Declaration received its sanction. The event was cele- 
brated in Providence on the 25th. The Governor and members of the 
Assembly were escorted by the Cadet and Light Infantry Companies 
to the Court House, where the repealing act of the Assembly and the 
Declaration of Independence were publicly read. A salute of thirteen 
guns from the Artillery, and the Continental ships in the harbor fol- 
lowed. A public dinner was provided, and spirited and appropriate 
toasts were given. 

This year Commencement was held as usual, and for the first time 
in the new Baptist Meeting-house. Nine young gentlemen were grad- 
uated, and received their diplomas. The Providence G-azette, under 
date of Sept. 7, 1776, gives the following account : — 

On Wednesday last, was celebrated the public anniversary Commencement of the 
College in this town ; the usual procession was from the College to the new Baptist 
meeting-house. The exercises of the day, being introduced by a prayer from the 
President, were the following, viz. : In the forenoon a Latin Salutatory Oration by Mr. 
Mann, upon the Calamities of War; an English Oration, by Mr. Thayer, uijon the 
Advantages of Literature ; and another English Oration, by Mr. Cummings, satirising 
Toryism and Negro Slavery. 

In the afternoon, a Latin Syllogistic Dispute by Messrs. Thayer and Cummings, 
"An leges divinae aliquid ultra vires humanas ab hominibus exigunt?" An English 
Oration by Mr. Coe, upon the great importance and advantages resulting to the State, 
as well as individuals, from a good education of youth of both sexes; an Oration 
attem^jted in Hebrew, according to the modern pronunciation, without the vowel 
points, upon the advantages of the study of the languages, by Mr. Cummings ; after 
which the following young gentlemen were admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, 
viz. : Curtis Coe, Amasa Cooke, Abraham Cummings, Ebenezer Dutch, William 
Edwards, Daniel Gano, John Hart, John Preston Mann, and Jabez Thayer. 

After a pertinent and solemn charge, delivered to the Bachelors by the President, 
the Valedictory Oration was spoken by Mr. Dutch, upon Liberty, with some anecdotes 
from the present times. 

The young gentlemen performed their respective parts with much propriety, and to 
the entertainment and satisfaction of a numerous and polite assembly, who attended 
with the utmost decorum through the whole. 



292 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. 

Coe, Cooke, Cummings, and Dutch, of this class, became clergy- 
men, and lived to a good age. Gano served in the war as lieutenant 
and captain, and afterwards settled in Kentucky as a pioneer. He died 
in Scott county, April 8, 1849. Mann of Attleborough, one of four 
"brothers, became a physician and settled in Newport, v/here he was for 
years, says Daggett, the historian of Attleborough, a leader in social 
circles. He acquired wealth, and owned a handsome and extensive 
place which is still a fine looking residence. His acquaintance embraced 
the most distinguished persons of his time. 

At the meeting of the Corporation there were present fourteen 
Trustees and five Fellows. Smith and Gano were in the army serving 
as chaplains, and Stillman had hardly recovered from the ten months' 
siege of Boston, and the effects of British occupation. The Honora- 
ble Chancellor Hopkins being absent, (the Continental Congress was 
now in session,) the Honorable Darius Sessions, Esq., was elected Vice 
Chancellor. ' ' In consideration of the great abilities, literary merit, 
and the many eminent services performed by Major-General Greene to 
this State in particular, and the Continent in general," so reads the 
record, it was " Voted, that the honorary degree of Master of Arts be 
conferred on him." Col. William Russell was elected a Trustee in the 
room of the Honorable Samuel Ward, Esq., deceased. Mr. Russell, it 
will be remembered, was the one through whose agency the lot for the 
meeting-house was purchased of John Angell. He was at that time, 
it is stated, a worshipper at the Episcopal Church. He was now 
regarded as a Baptist. The piety and eloquence of Manning drew 
largely from the other societies. The following item in the records is 
of interest : — 

Henry "Ward, Esq., agreeable to appointment, presented the draught of a f)etition to 
the Honorable General Assembly, praying them to continue the College funds in the 
treasury of the Colony notwithstanding their vote of March 4th ; which draught being 
agreed to was jpresented to the Assembly by the whole Corporation in a body. And 
"the Corporation having waited upon the Honorable General Assembly, and being 
heard upon their petition, the prayer thereof was generously granted." 

This was the last public Commencement held during the war. For 
months the enemy's cruisers had swarmed in the Bay, interrupting the 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 293 

trade and commerce of Providence. Their numbers increased as the 
season advanced, and on Saturday, December 7th, Sir Peter Parker, 
the British commander, with seven ships of the line, four frigates and 
a fleet of seventy transports, anchored in Newport harbor, landed a body 
of six thousand troops and took possession of the place. All was now 
in confusion, it being supposed that the British would march through 
Providence to Boston. Troops were massed throughout the town, 
martial law was proclaimed, College studies were interrupted, and the 
students were dismissed to their respective homes, as appears from the 
following notification of the President, published in the Providence 
Gazette : — 

This is to inform all the students that their attendance on College orders is hereby 
dispensed with, until the end of the next spring vacation; and that they are at liberty 
to return home, or prosecute their studies elsewhere, as they may think proper; and 
that those who pay as particular attention to their studies as these confused times 
will admit, shall then be considered in the same light and standing as if they had given 
the usual attendance here. In witness whereof, I subscribe, 

James Manning, President. 
Providence, Dec. 10, 1776. 

"The Seat of the Muses," in the expressive words of another, 
"now became the habitation of Mars."^ From Dec. 7, 1776, until 
May 27, 1782, the course of studies was suspended, and the College 
edifice was occupied for barracks, and afterwards for a hospital by the 
American and French forces. 

For three years, says Staples, whose "Annals" we again quote, until 
Oct. 25, 1779, the British retained possession of Newport and the 
Island. Their presence kept the whole State in continual alarm. 
Excursions were frequently made by the tenders and small armed ves- 
sels to the neighboring islands, and to the main. To guard against these, 
it was necessary to maintain a chain of posts all around Narragansett 



1 Up to this time the number of College students had steadily increased from year to year. In 
1769 there were thirteen students ; in 1770, twenty-one ; in 1771, twenty-five ; in 1772, thirty ; in 1773, 
thirty-three ; in 1774, thirty-four ; and in 1775, forty-one. These facts we learn from a paper pre- 
served on file by Judge Howell. 



294 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. 

Bay. Though aided by some Continental troops, and by soldiers from 
the adjoining states, the inhabitants of Rhode Island were almost con- 
stantly engaged in keeping watch and ward. Providence, at the head 
of navigable water, was supposed to be especially in danger. The town 
exhibited the appearance of a camp. The College building was first 
used as quarters for the Artillery, and the grounds around it for a 
parade, and afterwards for a hospital for the sick soldiery. The ordi- 
nary business of the town was suspended. Many of the inhabitants 
removed to places of safety in the interior, and there was nothing but 
the din of arms, and the thrilling sounds of martial music, to break the 
silence that reigned in the streets. 

President Manning having thus far discharged his arduous and 
responsible duties with unwearied assiduity and the most gratifying 
success, now employed this interval of relaxation from Collegiate ser- 
vice in the labors of the ministry, and in various acts of social benevo- 
lence which the perils and distresses of that period in our national 
history prompted him to perform. A letter to his friend, the Rev. John 
Ryland, written a few days before the closing of the College, gives a 
vivid idea of the war, regarded by a Christian and a philanthropist : — 

Providence, Nov. 13, 1776. 
Revbkend and Dear Sir: 

After a long interruption of our correspondence, an opportunity again offers of 
sending you a line, by some of our captive brethren, who have liberty to return directly 
to England. The bearer, Mr. Thomas Mackaness, partner with Mr. Thornton, can give 
you many more particulars of our affairs than I can by a letter. 

Since I wrote you last I have seen both glorious and gloomy days. The winter 
before last it pleased God to pour out his Spirit upon the people of this town in a most 
glorious manner. I believe about two hundred persons were converted within the 
space of a few months. I baptized more than half that number in less than a year. 
But the fatal 19th of April, the day of the Lexington battle, like an electric stroke put 
a stop to the progress of the work, as well in other places as here. Oh horrid war I 
How contrary to the spirit of Jesus ! May you never be alarmed, as we have been, 
with the horrid roar of artillery, and the hostile flames, destroying your neighbors' 
habitations. These I have repeatedly seen and heard, sitting in my house and lying in 
my bed. I desire to bless God, these scenes of carnage always appeared shocking to 
me, and I feel no disposition to destroy or injure my fellow-men. May the Lord turn 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 295 

the hearts of all to himself, and then I know war will instantly cease. The scene of 
action, in a hostile way, has been at the distance of more than two hundred miles from 
me this campaign, and I could wish it had been more than ten thousand, if it must he 
at all. You will not think strange that the colleges have suffered greatly by this tre- 
mendous convulsion ; though I believe we have not suffered more than our neighbors. 
Our number is about thirty ; but the high price of everything amongst us, I fear, will 
drive some of the students away. 

For more than a year the state of religion has been truly lamentable, except in some 
places in Connecticut. But there are pleasing prospects opening in several places 
around us ; I think there are some favorable symptoms in my congregation. May the 
Lord increase them. There have been seven Baptist ministers ordained in New 
England since last April, and about that number of churches constituted within about 
a year. These are encouraging circumstances amidst our troubles. 

My dear Brother Gano* has suffered greatly by the war, and where he now is with his 
distressed, numerous family, I cannot learn, as I have never had a line from him since 
he was obliged to quit New York. 

There was a glorious revival of religion, last winter, at Hopewell in the Jerseys. 
Ninety were baptized and added to that church in seven months. I have heard nothing 
of the state of religion from the southward for a long time ; but I fear that politics and 
war have not promoted it. If they have, they have fared better than New England. 

Mr. Mackaness informs me that there is a glorious revival in many parts of England, 
especially in the Establishment. I heartily rejoice to hear the news. May the kingdom 
of the Redeemer come throughout the world! 

The gentlemen you recommended to me as worthy of the honors of the College were 
all graduated ; but as the communication was shut up their dijilomas were never writ- 
ten ; and as I have but short notice of this opportunity, and as there is no parchment in 
the country, I could not forward them now. But I hope it may not be long before these 
obstructions are removed. 

I wish you great success in your labors in the Gospel, and many crowns of rejoicing 
in the day of Christ Jesus. If possible, let me have a line from you. If not, grant me 
an interest in your prayers at our Father's throne, that I may be kept in the day of temp- 
tation, and be enabled to fulfil the ministry which I have received. With great respect, 
and many obligations, I remain, dear sir. 

Your unworthy brother in the Gospel, 

James Manning. 

1 Rev. John Gano. He served as chaplain during the war, and by his patriotic counsels and 
earnest prayers did very much to encourage the officers and privates of the American army. After 
the occupation of New York by the British, he retired with his family to a farm within five miles 
of Warwick, near the New Jersey line. Mr. Manning visited his family in May, 1779, as we learn 
from his diary or journal. 



296 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIIL 

The religious awakening to which Manning here refers we have 
already alluded to in a previous chapter. Backus states in his church 
history that Manning heard the celebrated Fristoe, of Virginia, during 
the sessions of the Philadelphia Association, in October, 1774, and that 
he returned home to preach with renewed zeal. The revival which fol- 
lowed is more particularly described in the following letter to the Rev. 
Benjamin Wallin, dated Nov. 12, 1776 : — 

Reverend and Dear Sir : 

It is long since I have had the pleasure of hearing from you, or an opportunity of 
writing to you, in consequence of the perilous times in which we live. But I hope, 
though Great Britain and America are at war, that the saints of God do not mean to 
wage war against each other, or suffer their love and affection towards each other in the 
least to abate, because a wise Providence has cast their lot in the respective contending 
countries. I do not think it the business of the ministers of Christ to meddle much 
with politics, as they are concerned to promote a kingdom not of this world. You will 
not, therefore, expect anything from me on this subject, except so far as the cause of the 
Redeemer appears to be affected by the alarming aspect of public affairs. 

In the beginning of the winter of 1774, it pleased the Lord in a most remarkable man- 
ner to revive his work in the town of Providence, and more especially among the people 
of my charge. Such a time I never before saw. Numbers were pricked to the heart. 
Our public assemblies by night and by day were crowded, and the auditors seemed to 
hear as for the life of their souls. It was frequently an hour before I could get from the 
pulpit to the door, on account of the numbers thronging to have an opportunity of stat- 
ing the condition of their minds, — some exulting in the love of God and speaking of a 
precious Jesus, and others bewailing their awful, ruined state, and asking, "What 
must I do to be saved?" My dear sir, never until now did I so effectually feel the 
insufficiency of instruments to afford the poor sinner the least help. How glorious now 
to view the all-sufficient Saviour! There I woiild stand jjointing to him, and saying, 
" Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." This was all I 
could do. Never before did I experience such happy hoiirs in the pulpit. Day and 
night my dear people resorted to my house to open to me the state of their souls, inso- 
much that it was with difficulty I could at any time attend to secular business ; and I 
think I may say with truth, that I had as little inclination as leisure for it, further than 
the absolute demands of duty required. 

And what added peculiarly to my happiness was, that the Lord visited the College 
as remarkably as the congregation. Frequently, when I went to the recitation-room, I 
would find nearly all the students assembled, and joining in prayer and praise to God. 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 297 

Instead of my lectures on logic and philosophy, they would request me to speak to them 
of the things concerning the kingdom of God. But your experience in the service of 
the dear Redeemer will enable you to form a more adequate idea of the concomitant 
circumstances of such a work of grace than I can here communicate. In a word, the 
mountains seemed to melt at the presence of the Lord ; the pride and haughtiness of man 
were laid low; and the Lord alone was exalted. In the space of about six months, I 
baptized more than one hundred persons.^ Many were also added to the other churches 
of the town, who, I believe, were first added to the Lord. Thus the glorious work con- 
tinued, and rather increased, until the fatal 19th of April, when the affair at Lexington 
hajjpened, which, like an electric shock, filled every mind with horror and comjiassion. 
When one would have thought this would have promoted seriousness amongst us, it, 
strange to tell, operated the very reverse ; for since the fatal day languor and abatement 
of zeal for God seem greatly to have obtained, and instances of conversion to Christ are 
rare. Yet I hope our affairs are now somewhat improving. I have often labored to 
investigate the cause of the almost universal decline of vital godliness amongst us since 
the commencement of this unhappy war, but can find no other than that war is in its 
nature a hardening judgment. I have heard of and know many places where the Lord 
by his Spirit apijeared to be at work when hostilities commenced, and in every instance 
the work immediately abated. In one instance only were they made the means of any 
considerable awakening. Yet, blessed be God! the dews of divine grace have distilled 
gloriously in many places, and reformations are commencing. I know you will heartily 
join at the throne of grace that Christ's kingdom may so come in both countries, yea, in 
all the world, that war may cease from the ends of the earth. I expect Mr. Thomas 
Mackaness, merchant in partnership with Mr. Thornton, will hand you this. He has 
been a great sufferer by having been taken on his voyage to Quebec, in consequence of 
which he lost vessel and cargo. He can give further information concerning me, if you 
desire. "With sincere regards, I am, dear sir. 

Your friend and unworthy brother, 

James Manning. 

The following reply, the last letter from Wallm ever received by 
Manning, shows that war had not alienated all our English friends. 
This fact is delightfully evident in the correspondence of a later 
period : — 



1 Among those who became religious at this time was Mrs. Manning, whom her husband baptized 
in the month of January, 1775. 
38 



298 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Ghap. VIII. 

Maze Pond, Southwark, Aug. 30, 1777. 
Keverend and Dear Sir: 

I embrace the opportunity of acknowledging your very acceptable favor, which came 
to hand in January last. Oh the wonders of Omnipotent love! Peace on earth and 
good-will to men, dispensed by the everlasting Gospel in a rebellious world, like the 
antediluvian, corrupt before God, and filled with violence ! It is the Lord's doings 
and marvellous in our eyes. Your striking account of the heavenly visitation on the 
church and College over which you preside filled me with gratitude and joy, as it did 
my iieople, and indeed many others, ministers and respectable individuals, from whom 
I could not conceal the glad tidings. They proved as cold water to a thirsty soul. 
Dear sir, if you would have such good news a secret, you must not trust a man with it 
who wishes to spread abroad the salvation of God, that all who love it may have con- 
tinual occasion to glorify his name. Many thanksgivings redounded to the King of all 
grace upon a rehearsal of this glorious display of his mercy, — an evidence this of a 
genuine love among the saints whose lot is cast in the respective contending countries, 
originally united, now waging war, to the grief of all who wish well to Great Britain. 
"What stronger proof of this divine grace than a free communication and an unfeigned 
great joy in each other's prosperity! 

It would be pleasing to return a similar account from the mother country, but the 
state of religion is not so delightful and promising. Indeed, many preachers go forth, 
and the number of hearers increases, but it is not so strictly in the way of the Lord as I 
could wish. It seems to me vain-glorious, and in some respects tending to confusion, 
of which God is not the author. Among the Episcopalians who have any idea of gos- 
pel truth (though I think for the most part they are rather superficial), their way is to 
open a chapel, as they style it, and, having drawn an audience, they are fixed at a cus- 
tom-rate for their seats. On this plan many, and some of them sumptuous buildings 
have been erected, to which, by report, great numbers resort. I would hope by this 
means some may be led into a saving knowledge of Christ, and so far I rejoice ; yet I 
(.annot but lament the tending and the effect of this carnal contrivance and vague kind 
of social religion to the accommodation of man and the neglect of all gospel order. A 
becoming zeal for this is now a matter of reproach with many among us, insomuch that 
the enlightened, who wish to be conformed to the positive institutions of the Eedeemer, 
are under great discouragements, and few join the regular churches of any denomina- 
tion; so that a godly discipline in particular communion is in a manner out-of-doors. 
The consequence of all this will, I fear, be a greater declension from real and practical 
piety. The Baptists more esj^ecially are obnoxious to these popular gentlemen, of 
which a specimen has lately transpired in an abusive pamphlet, by a warm-spirited 
young clergyman. Irritated by some altercations on a late baptizing in the parish of 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 299 

his vicarage, lie has fallen foul on me for my little address to the churches of the Con- 
gregational order, — the first edition of which you have in a volume of mine. This piece 
has nothing to do with the point in debate, and, being anonymous, was by many 
ascribed to a person of the Independent persuasion before the author was discovered. 
This man holds me np to the public as a masterpiece of bigotry, and an enemy to all 
Pedobaptist communion, and at the same time pretends to much candor. 

This newly-adopted mode has already emboldened some froward men to set up for 
themselves, under the color of Protestant dissenters ; and, among them, lately, one 
Mr. Dawson, a Sabbatarian Baptist, not long since in New England. Alas! these men 
make a trade of religion ! It likewise favors party divisions in church, too frequent, 
and which now for the most part end in grievous and shameful separations, to the 
prejudice of brotherly love ; it being the taste of the day to follow new societies and 
teachers. This is a melancholy case ; for we know by the disciples at Corinth that in 
this carnal spirit there is little regard to the power and grace of God in the increase 
of his church. 

As to my congregation, they are in general steady, and our church state gradually 
advances. Of late we have been favored with some remarkable instances of conver- 
sion ; among others, last month I baptized four young persons of one family, brothers- 
and sisters in the flesh, the children of a deacon lately deceased, who was the second 
person that passed under my hands. This was in the year 1741. Their grandfather and 
grandmother were also valuable members of the church some years after I succeeded 
my honored father in the pastoral charge. The Lord will not fail, but may exceed the 
terms of his promise. His grace is not bound. You will not wonder at the joy of the 
brethren on this singular occasion. 

I fear the Papists take advantage of our civil and religious confusion. According to 
some there are alarming symptoms of their increase in our nation and cities. Indeed, 
unknown and disorderly societies but too much favor their design, while the political 
sentiments of many Protestants are a hindrance, at least, to their social jarayers. But 
with our God nothing is impossible. May he pour out the Spirit from on high on both 
countries, and graciously restore our public tranquillity on an honorable and permanent 
foundation; and may you, dear sir, enjoy many happy hours in the closet and in the 
pulpit, and again be employed in a field white for harvest, as in the year 1775. 

As for me, my age and infirmities promise little further capacity for usefulness. 
Infinite are the obligations upon me for the grace by which I have been sustained 
thirty-seven years in the arduous work of the ministry. Our great Divine Master doth 
not cast off his old servants ; yet the prayers of my brethren may subserve to a finish 
with joy ; a request, I am persuaded, you will not deny me. 

Having the honor of a place in your library, it seemed decent to present a copy of 
another attemjit since my last. Parents, you know, sir, oft show their vanity in dress- 



300 BKOWN UNIVEESITT Chap. VIII. 

ing lip their children. Excuse tlie uniform of the eleventh volume. It comes in 
expectation of the same kind reception with that of its preceding companions. If any 
hints concerning j)arables in general, or that in particular which is the subject in 
hand, prove pertinent and useful, the author flatters himself that some other pen may 
improve them to j)ublic advantage. 

For an increase of the church's prosperity and a period to the national trouble, we 
unite in our prayers to the Most High, with which I conclude. 
Dear sir, 

Your very obliged and affectionate brother, 

Benjamin "Wallin. 

P. S. — The copy on The Prodigal presented to the College with my most respectful 
compliments to the venerable members, if it be needful to mention so trifling a matter 
to them, was bound in readiness soon after the publication. My notice of this oppor- 
tunity was short, which it is hoped will apologize for the mourning dress of those 
directed to you and the other gentlemen, on whose candor in perusing them I rely. If 
by any means you can inform me of the arrival of these, it will be acceptable. Before 
the present interruption to our intercourse took place, I was in expectation of soon 
receiving a digested and authentic account of your College, which, I hope, will survive 
the civil commotions, and prove a flourishing seminary of learning under your direc- 
tion. If this design is carried into execution, I hope to be presented with some copies 
the first opportunity. 

The following letter, addressed to Miss A. Howard, in Scarboro, 
England, illustrates the peculiar tact and delicacy of Manning in his 
efforts to alleviate the distressed, and to give sympathy and counsel to 
the bereaved and unfortunate. In a footnote he remarks that the letter 
actually sent to Miss Howard was greatly altered and enlarged from 
this, which seems to be the first copy. Captain Bell, it appears, was 
taken with his vessel, by some of our cruisers, and brought into Provi- 
dence, where he died. He was engaged to be married to the lady in 
question, who, as will be observed, was an entire stranger to Manning. 

Providence, New England, Nov. 19, 1776. 
Dear Madam: 

I hope you will excuse the forwardness of a stranger in addressing a line to you, 
when I inform you of the amiable character given you by my dear unfortunate friend, 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 301 

Mr. Thomas Mackaness ; as also from the sympathetic feelings of my heart under the 
distress which the news of the unexpected and truly lamentable death of the dear Cap- 
tain Bell must occasion, especially considering the endearing relation which, I am 
informed, he soon expected to stand in to you. Horrid war! "What havoc dost thou 
make! To glut thy rage, must the youthful, amiable, virtuous, and what exceeds all 
these, must the singularly pious Bell fall a victim to thy relentless stroke ! Must the 
hearts of tender parents bleed? Must more than half of all your happiness on earth 
perish? Must the dear bereaved church at Hull be bathed in tears? Must the tender 
orphans, his peculiar care, bewail the loss of their kindest benefactor, under thy unnat. 
ural domain? 

But why do I open afresh the wounds which, long ere this arrives, have often bled? 
You, doubtless, have oft portrayed the bliss of the intended conjugal relation, and 
recounted the joys of such a virtuous connection, which, by a stroke, is now all blasted, 
and you sit solitary as one forsaken, and, in the plaintive strain of the sweet singer of 
Israel, cry. Lover and friend hast thou removed from me, and mine acquaintance into dark- 
ness. " I shall no more see good in the land of the living." But stop, my friend! Why 
these unavailing sighs ? For whom do you thus lament ? Is it for him who was so fully 
ripe for heaven, that earth was no longer for him a fit habitation, — for him whose heart 
and conversation were so in heaven, that the Redeemer chose to receive him to that 
society where, unmolested, he might sing those songs of praise, and give full scope to 
that ardor of sjiirit, which he had here so oft attemiited, and so uniformly felt ? True, the 
loss to you is great ; but greater far, to him, the gain. And could you wish to disengage 
him from that blessed employment, — from that glorious society for which you long, 
and where you hope to bear a part in those anthems of praise to God and the Lamb 
forever? Can you desire that he, disengaged from every earthly clog, should again, for 
many painful years, groan under the weight of a body of death, and see the object of 
his highest love through faith's dim medium, as we do now, and mourn his absence from 
our Father's house, — and all this to gratify and assist you through this painful journey 
home to glory? No, madam; both reason and religion forbid this selfish passion; and, 
painful as the thought of separation is, I know your generous soul can't wish it. You 
only mourn that you are left behind, and that our degenerate world has lost his bright 
example. But remember that he has left you in better hands, — that the swift-revolv- 
ing years will soon land you at the same peaceful haven, where not only he but Jesus 
waits to welcome travellers home. Instead of pensive sadness, then, cheer up, and, as 
the poet sung, let us go singing on. It will render the journey less painful ; and per- 
haps more than half the way is passed. Remember that now your attachment to heaven 
is stronger than ever. There your best friend, your kindred dwell, there God your Saviour 
I'eigns. May he grant you his divine ipresence to support you under the sore affliction, 
and abundantly sanctify his hand to you, that you may be more and more prepared for 



302 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. VIII. 

glory. Had I great interest at a throne of grace, you should not want a share of it ; for 
I think if joining in your sorrow and mingling a friendly tear will alleviate your grief, 
I have borne a part for you. 

Since the ship was taken and brought in here, I have often thought I should have 
been peculiarly happy had it been the will of Heaven to have spared the life of the dear 
man whose untimely death more than British friends lament. But here I find my ■n'ant 
of submission to the will of God ; for I am only happy when from the heart I can say 
to God, Thy will be done. 

Probably I shall never see your face in the flesh ; but should this happiness be denied 
me, I hope to see you where there shall be no more sorrow nor sighing ; where God 
shall wipe away every tear from our eyes ; where we shall see, not only the dear man 
whom we lament, but all the saints on earth, with those uncalled as yet, with Abra- 
ham, Isaac, and Jacob, with the apostles and prophets, and the general assembly of 
those whose names are written in heaven, with Jesus, the mediator, at their head, and 
God the Judge of all. Oh! what a glorious day when we shall rise to this exalted sta- 
tion! My dear friend, let us, then, walk worthy of such a calling; that whether we are 
absent or present in body, we may be present with the Lord. And here, I recollect, we 
may have an interview ; I mean at the throne of grace. "Wishing you the highest pos- 
sible happiness, I subscribe myself, madam, 

Your friend and servant, 

James Manning. 

The following letter to the Rev. John Berriclge, of London, shows 
Dr. Manning in the light of a controversialist. How skilfully he could 
handle the weapons of polemic w^arfare, will best be learned from its 
perusal. The pungency of its wit, the force of its argument, and the 
excellence of its stjde and spirit, amply compensate for its unusual 
length. Mr. Berridge, it may be added, was famous in his day as a 
preacher of the Whitfield stamp, and was classed among the friends 
and favorites of Lady Huntington. In this work he represents him- 
self as a physician conversing with his patient and prescribing for his 
disease. Thus the way is opened for a thorough discussion of practical 
and doctrinal Christianity, in language as plain and forcible, says a 
reviewer, "as was ever used by the dreamer of Bedford Jail." The 
work was republished in 1854 by Gould and Lincoln, with a short 
memoir of the author by Dr. Thomas Guthrie. 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 303 

Providence, New England, Nov. 19, 1776. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Lately, through the kindness of my friend Mr. Thomas Mackaness, of Loudon, I 
had the perusal of the " Christian "World Unmasked. ^ Pray, Come and Peep. By 
John Berridge, A.M., etc." 8vo. Loud., 1773. 1 accepted the invitation, and found the 
book in general corresjDonded well to the title-page, until I came to pp. 223-5, inclusive, 
when I peeped again, but could not discover the least gleam of light, and therefore 
concluded the mask was in the way ; when lo ! I turned to my New Testament, and 
found that light which is concealed by a veil while we search the Old for New Testa- 
ment ordinances. Ay, Baptist, Baptist; I thought you were a water-fowl when you 
referred to the pages. Well, be it so ; if he can be an instrument to pick open your 
«yes a little wider, I hope you will have no objection to him on that account. You 
say, " I would hate no man, and do condemn no man for thinking differently in this 
matter." Now if you mean to place the emphasis on thinking, I think I shall not fare 
well for saying differently. However, as you have made very free with the Grazier, 
I hope I may with the Doctor, upon the same principle, without offense. 

You say that you have no doubt that infant-baptism is attended with the same 
blessing that infant-circumcision was formerly. Both the ordinances are of God's 
appointment, etc. Till now, I find you producing plain Scripture warrant for the 
glorious doctrines you advance. And must we oiihj rely upon the Doctor's bare word 
for the truth of this last assertion? What shall I say, then, to that voice I hear from 
Heaven, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye him," and that, too, in the presence of Moses 
andElias? Pray, Doctor, have me excused till you point me to the page where this 
great jirophet authorizes you to say this. I have carefully examined the dispensatory, 
but can find no such prescription between the lids of it. You ask why Christian chil- 
dren may not be received into the church's fold by baptism, as were the Jewish by 
circumcision. Answer: The former was by God's special appointment, but not the 
latter. Surely, then, wide is the difference in their case. To say nothing is said to for- 
bid them, is not sufficient to a truly Christian Protestant doctor ; for if it is necessary, 
totidem verbis, for the Scripture to forbid everything practised under the name of Chris- 
tianity, which is, notwithstanding, contrary to the true genius of the gospel, it would 
require a Bible ten times as large as Dr. Gill's Exposition of it. And then what should 
we field-preachers and the recruiting sergeants of the country do ? But pray. Doctor, 
is baptism a moral precept, or an institution purely positive ? If the latter, why need 
we wreck and torture our brains to find a reason for either mode or subjects, time or 
place, or anything further than what the New Testament simply informs us concerning 



1 A copy of this work is in the writer's possession. It is probably the copy which Manning 
perused, as it was obtained through a member of his family. 



304 BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. VIII. 

it, as there is the only place where we should look for it ? Or why need we be dis- 
tressed how little children should be brought to Christ, while he has not seen fit to 
teach us the way in which it should be done ? 

In the next paragraph, you say that children dying unbaptized are left to God's 
uncovenanted mercy; and what that is, no mortal can tell. But I think I will under- 
take to tell what it is when the Doctor gives me a satisfactory account how baptismal 
water, through the grace of Christ, does wash away the guilt of original or birth-sin (so 
that dying before they can discern between good and evil, etc., they will be saved), 
consistent with the whole tenor of the rest of this performance, where the merits of 
Christ, applied by the Spirit of God, alone cleanses from sin ; especially at the top of 
page 223, where the Doctor asserts the right to pardon, and a claim to eternal life, are 
wholly treasured up in Christ, and only are attained through faith in him ; — I say, when 
the Doctor gives a solution of this Gordian knot, I will undertake the other part prom- 
ised. Will the Doctor assert that infants, who are not capable of discerning between 
good and evil, are capable of believing in a gospel sense ? If not, will he assert that 
they will be saved without a right to pardon, or any claim to eter^ial life,iohich are blessings 
treasured up in Christ? I cannot see how this difficulty can be solved, without recourse 
to believing by proxy, which I think the Doctor will not recur to, lest the Grazier 
should learn the trick, and get the curate to believe, in his stead, that he might follow 
more agreeable business and yet be safe, and after all vanquish the Doctor with his 
own weapon. But if there is so much efficacy in baptism, it is a pity everybody should 
not partake of it. And pray, can anybody administer it that pleases ? or miist he be a 
clergyman ? If so, alas ! what shall our poor American church-people do ? For since 
the King's naughty ministers undertook to enslave the colonies, the rebel congresses, 
conventions, committees, etc., have forbid the clergy to pray for the King, and they are 
so sulky that they will neither preach, pray, baptize, nor anything else.^ And now 



1 Perhaps Dr. Manning is too sweeping in his remarks toucliing the loyalty of the Episcopal 
clergy. It is certain, however, that there was ample foundation for such remarks. In the chapter 
of Staples's Annals devoted to ecclesiastical history, we find that the Rev. John Graves, who was 
the rector of the Episcopal church in Providence until July, 1776, declined to officiate after that 
period, because he could not he permitted to read the usual and ordinary prayers for the King, 
which he considered himself bound by his ordination vows to offer. The church was in conse- 
quence closed, most of the time, during the Revolution. Writers like Backus have termed the 
War of the American Revolution a "Church war," or in other words, a war carried on by the 
church party. It is certain that a large proportion of the " Loyalists," or, as they were called by 
Washington and his adherents, " Tories," were of the Eijiscojjal faith. Thus, while the whole 
number of regulars enlisted for the Continental service from the beginning to the close of the 
struggle, as stated by Sabine, in his '-American Loyalists," was 231,959, Puritan New England 
equipped and maintained above one-half of this number, or 118,350. Most of the Episcopal clergy, 
this author states, "not only espoiised the cause of the adverse side, but abandoned their flocks 
and the country." For a clear account of the relations of the Church of England to the American 
Colonies, see Thornton's "Pulpit of the American Revolution." 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 305 

must the poor infants who may happen to die all perish through their obstinacy, the 
wickedness of the congresses, and the King's ministers? If this be the case, I hope 
the Doctor's patriotism will furnish the minority with a new argument, to urge at the 
next sitting of Parliament the repeal of the laws, and which must be very forcible, for 
I do not believe that administration ever intended to kill our souls. I know pious 
Lord Dartmouth will turn about; for it is storied in America that he was very squeam- 
ish when they determined to kill only their bodies. I was glad, however, to find, with 
the Grazier, you were not " foi'getting Jesixs Christ to help out some defects," in which 
you put the grace of Christ together with " baptismal water, — esjiecially as a man of a 
plain understanding might conclude the former quite sufficient of itself; though the 
Doctor seems to have given baptismal water the preference, agreeable to the Grazier's 
method of discharging sinful debts, or paying a decent part of the shot himself, and 
leaving Jesus to discharge the rest of the reckoning. But how will this comport with 
the sentiment advanced in page 176: " It matters not at all whether the work be ritual 
or moral, while we seek to be saved by it. If we seek at all to be saved by any work 
of our own, we fall from grace." Pray, Doctor, is not baptism as much a work as 
circumcision ? 

On page 224 you quote God's declaration to Abraham, long before Jesus was given, 
" That an uncircumcised child shall be cut off from his people ; he hath broken my cove- 
nant" (Gen. xvii. 16), and say the covenant here spoken of is not the Sinai covenant, 
but the covenant of grace. Circumcision was the outward sign of this covenant to 
Abraham, as baptism is to us. The outward rite is different, but the covenant the same. 
This I compared with pp. 33, 114, where I find it thus written : " If you desire benefit 
from the covenant of grace, you must be baptized, and if you seek advantage from the 
covenant of works, you must be circumcised. A rite of initiation is appointed to both 
the covenants, and you cannot enter into both without partaking of the double rite." 
In a covenant of works a man must work for life by his own will and power," etc. " The 
tenor of this covenant is, do and live, transgress and die," etc. "In the covenant of 
grace all things are purchased for us, and bestowed ujion us generously and freely. 
These two covenants are called the old and the new ; no more are noticed in Scrijiture ; 
and a suitable law respecting both is mentioned, — the law of works and the law of 
faith (Rom. iii. 27). All other laws are cobwebs of a human brain, such as the law of 
sincere obedience, the law of love," etc. And pray why not the law of infant baptism? 
Now if the covenant made with Abraham was the covenant of grace, and circumcision 
was the sign of it, why are we told that if we desire benefit from the covenant of works 
we must be circumcised ? It cannot be because these two very different covenants have 
the same rites of initiation ; because the Doctor says their rites are different, unless the 
coA^enant of grace in Abraham's days is a covenant of works in oixrs ; for there are but 
two covenants, the old and the new, noticed in the Scriptures. 
39 



306 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. YIII. 

But I will leave you to compare these passages yourself, without further insisting 
upon their inconsistency, and come to the dernier resort: " That no harm can possibly 
arise from baptizing an infant." Stop, Doctor, stop ; these expressions are very strong, 
— I fear much too strong. For did not the Doctor say, page 222, " That much people, 
who are strangers to the work of regeneration, suppose the new birth is only their bap- 
tism, and that every one is born again who is baptized? " And is it strange they should 
think so when they hear thanks returned to God on its performance, that it is so by the 
doctors appointed to that service ? Surely, to lead such multitudes into error in such an 
important article as that of regeneration, cannot be such a harmless thing, especially if 
we believe our Saviour's account of it (Johniii. 3). Besides, it makes great doctors con- 
tradict themselves when they write or talk about the covenants. If I were one of those 
doctors, I should think this was some harm. But, most of all, it is invading the kingly 
office of the great Redeemer; for I can see no reason why the merits of saints may 
not be mingled with the merits of Christ to save the Christian, as the laws or ordi- 
nances of men with those of Christ to rule and govern it. Shall we, like Uzzah, not 
trust the Lord vjholly with his ark, but must have a meddling finger ? I forbear to recite 
the following part of your sentence. I must mention one more evil which arises from 
baptizing infants, which is this: The practice constrains those servants of God who 
practice it often to wrest and explain away the plain, obvious sense of Scripture to vin- 
dicate it ; esi^ecially to give such representations of the covenant of grace as mars its 
glory, and encovirages the opposers of the glorious doctrines of grace in rejecting the 
pure gospel of Jesus Christ. This has often grieved my heart, and in no case more than 
in reading your book, where the glorious Redeemer is exalted in his office, nature and 
grace, and the pride of man stained, until you get hampered, I think with infant-bap- 
tism, which neither we nor our fathers are able to prove was ever the mind of Christ. 
Upon this principle I concluded to address to you a line ; not under the notion of a dis- 
pensation, but in a friendly way to hint at what I thought mistakes in your performance. 
You may probably esteem me rigid, from this specimen, and greatly attached to 
externals ; but I think otherwise of myself. I think I love the followers of the Lamb, 
under whatever denomination they pass amongst men. I esteem them my brethren, 
and feel disposed to make all proper allowances for the prejudices of education, and the 
weaknesses of human nature, knowing that I myself also am in the body, and pecul- 
iarly need the candor of my Christian friends. I hope, therefore, that the benevolence 
of my intentions will apologize for the rudeness of my manner. I shall always rejoice 
to hear that dear Mr. Berridge is alive for God, — is held as a star in the right hand of 
Jesus, and is honored with many seals of his ministry, even though he should continue 
to think and practise very different from myself relative to the mode and subjects of 
baptism ; though I sincerely pray that you may be set entirely right in this matter. 
And blessed be God, he has left us a rule which is able to make wise unto salvation 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 307 

through faith in Jesus Christ. May all our doctrines and practices he governed by 
that; and may the Spirit of truth lead us into all truth, and ever keep us humble, solely 
relying on the Lord for those supplies of grace and helji which we always need. May 
the God of Blessing bless you. I am, reverend and dear sir, 

Your friend and servant in the Gospel, 

James Manning. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 3, 1777, the members of the Corporation, as 
appears from the records, met in the new Baptist meeting-house, and 
conferred degrees upon seven members of the Senior class, who had 
been examined the day previous, in accordance with the following, 
which we take from the Providence Gazette. There was no Commence- 
ment : — 

As the term of vacation in the College is now expired, the students are hereby 
informed, that, in the jiresent state of public affairs, the prosecution of studies here is 
utterly impracticable, especially while this continues a garrisoned town. It is there- 
fore recommended to them to prosecute their studies elsewhere for the present, to the 
best advantage in their power. The Senior class are desired to meet at the College, to 
pass their examination, and receive their degrees at the usual time, being the 2d day of 
September next, unless the College should be called together sooner. In behalf of the 
Corporation, 

James Manning. 

Providence, May 16, 1777. 

There was no further meeting of the Corporation held until May 5, 
1780, when an attempt was made to revive the instruction of the College. 

The years following the breaking up of the College were seasons of 
great distress. Many families left the town, unable to obtain a sub- 
sistence. The records of the church show that members of influence 
and property, some of them warm personal friends of Manning, were 
really objects of commiseration. It was the delight of the Pastor, in 
this hour of trial, when members of his flock were scattered by the war, 
and the influences of literature seemed paralyzed, to aid the needy, and 
to throw the sunshine of Christian sympathy around the path of the 
afflicted. His knowledge of the world, his courtly manners, his Chris- 
tian meekness, combined with his extraordinary energy of character, 



308 BROWN" UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. 

enabled him to move at ease in every class of society, and thus to pro- 
mote the good of all. The following instance of his humane disposition 
is thus related by Howland, in his brief memoir of Dr. Manning, pub- 
lished in the year 1815 in the Rhode Island Literary Repository : — 

He enjoyed the confidence of the General commanding in this department, and in one 
instance in particular had all the benevolent feelings of his heart gratified, even at the 
last moment, after earnest entreaty, by obtaining from General Sullivan an order of 
reprieve for three men of the regular army who were sentenced to death by that inex- 
orable tribunal, a court-martial. The moment he obtained the order revoking the sen- 
tence, he mounted his horse at the General's door, and, by pushing him to his utmost 
speed, arrived at the place of execution at the instant the last act had begun which was 
to precipitate them into eternity. With a voice which none could disobey, he com- 
manded the execution to stay, and delivered the General's order to the oflicer of the 
guard. The joy of the attending crowd seemed greater than that of the subjects of 
mercy ; they were called so suddenly to life from the last A'erge of death, they did not 
for a moment feel that it was a reality. 

In the same memoir Mr. Howland thus relates the history of an 
important civil function which was confided to Dr. Manning, and by him 
most skilfully discharged : — 

The reiaeated calls of the militia, while the enemy remained in this State (Rhode 
Island), ojierated with iieculiar severity. In some districts the ground could not be 
planted, and in others the harvest was not reaped in season; the usual abundance of 
the earth fell short, and he who had the best means of supi^ly frequently had to divide 
his store with a suffering neighbor. In addition to this, laws existed in several States 
prohibiting the transport of provisions beyond the State boundary. The plea for these 
restrictions was that there was danger of the enemy being supplied ; but the real cause 
was to retain the provisions for the purpose of furnishing their State's quota of troops, 
as the war was generally carried on by the energy of the governments of the individual 
States. These restrictions came with double weight on the citizens of Rhode Island, as 
a great part of the State was in the possession of the enemy, and the remainder was filled 
with those who had fled from the islands and the coasts for safety. These restrictions 
and prohibitions were variously modified ; but under all their variations, which referred 
chiefly to the mode of executing the law, the grievance was the same. The Governor 
and council of war of Rhode Island, wishing to give their language of remonstrance a 
power of imjiression which paper could not be made to convey, commissioned Dr. Man- 



1775-n79. AND MANNING. 309 

ning to repair to Connecticut, and represent, personally, to the government of that state 
our peculiar situation, and to confer with and propose to them a different mode of pro- 
cedure. The Doctor in this embassy obtained all that he desired ; the restrictions were 
removed, and, in addition to this, on his representation of the circumstances of the refu- 
gees from the islands, contributions, in money or proA'isions, were made in nearly all the 
parishes in the interior of Connecticut, and forwarded for their relief. 

Arnold, under date of Jan. 21, 1779, thus writes concerning this 
period : — 

The deplorable condition of the State was represented in a touching letter from 
Governor Greene to the Assembly of Connecticut: " The most obdurate heart would 
relent to see old age and childhood, from comfortable circumstances, reduced to the 
necessity of begging for a morsel of bread." Two thousand persons driven from the 
island of Rhode Island were scattered about, homeless and penniless through the 
State, but chiefly in Providence, dependent upon public or private charity. Deputy 
Governor Bowen and Dr. Manning were sent to represent the case to the Assembly of 
Connecticut and obtain leave to purchase grain in their behalf. A memorial to Con- 
gress was also prepared. The response to both of these apjieals was noble. Connecti- 
cut allowed seven thousand bushels of grain to be exported to Rhode Island, and 
donations were secured in that State amounting to five hundred bushels of grain and 
£4,300 in money. 

The following letter to Moses Brown Avill be found speciall}^ inter- 
esting. It belongs to the Rhode Island Historical Society, which has 
kindly permitted us to copy it for the present work : — 

Providence, Marches, 177it. 
Respected Friend: 

The distress of the poor in this town for want of bread is so great, that unless some 
speedy provision can be made, I fear many must suffer extremely, if not perish. Upon 
looking into the matter I can see but one way to prevent it ; and that is that those who 
have any more than for a present supply for their families should lend it to Capt. Peleg 
Clarke, to be immediately distributed, and to repay it on the arrival of the grain from 
Connecticut, which the depths of the roads prevent being brought until better weather. 
Clarke says he will do this, as soon as in his power. But all agree that unless twenty 
bushels can be got, such a distribution will be impracticable, so great is the number in 
distress. I have got ready five bushels of Indian corn, of Arthur Fenner, two bushels 
of rye; and if you can do anything in this way, T should be glad if you would com- 



310 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. 

municate it to Captain Clarke as soon as may be. It would be best to have the whole 

ground, and distributed at the Market House. I know I need use no arguments, but 

only recite the facts to a benevolent mind. 

I am yours, 

James Manning. 

In this connection we cannot refrain from quoting another anecdote 
of Manning, as an illustration of his readiness to use every opportunity 
to benefit the souls of his fellow-men. We find it in Stone's Life and 
Recollections of Howland. In May, 1780, occurred "the dark day," 
so often referred to by the chroniclers of that period.^ At noon all 
ordinary business was suspended. Fowls sought their roosts, cattle 
retired as at night, and men stood appalled at the dread appearances. 
"I went," says Howland, "into the street, where many persons were 
assembled, and among others Dr. Manning. A powerful man, but 
profligate, advanced up to the President, and said, ' How do you 
account for this darkness, sir ? what does it mean ?' The President, 
with great solemnity of manner, replied, 'I consider it, sir, as a pre- 
lude to that great and important day when the final consummation of 
all things is to take place.' " 

A letter which we find addressed to his friend and former pupil the 
Rev. Thomas Ustick, now in Ashford, Connecticut, shows that the 
College was uppermost in all his thoughts and plans, even though the 
fortunes of war had suspended its public exercises : — 

Providence, Nov. 17, 1778. 
Dear Sir: 

I am told that Mr. Kelly has entirely quitted Pomfret, to their great disappointment. 
There was a large gathering of people attended, and the prospect was encouraging of 
great good to be done there. In a letter to Brother Thurber, I mentioned the proba- 
bility of your supplying them, at least for the present, and perhaps of settling amongst 
them for life, if you and they are blessed together. Should that be the case, it would 
be a good place for a Latin school, a nursery for the College, Avhich I wish you imme- 
diately to engage in, and endeavor to influence as many as you can of our people to 
educate their children. The present state of the Baptist society in New England 



1 For an account of the " Dark Day," by Professor Williams, see Memoirs of the Aiaerican 
Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vol. I. See also Holmes's Life of Stiles, p. 265. 



1775-1779. AND MANNING. 311 

must convince us all of the importance of having men of education in all parts of the 
country. I am very sorry that I did not think to mention something of this to the 
Association: but I have written and am about writing to all our ministers capable of 
teaching Latin, to immediately engage in the business. I hope, from present appear- 
ances, that college orders may be again revived next spring. I think you ought at least 
to visit Pomfret and help them under their present disappointment, as I understand 
you do not preach statedly at Ashford, and that you are nearly convinced that it will 
not be best for you to settle at that place. "With respects to you and yours, 

I remain, etc., 

James Manning. 

A letter from Judge Howell, resigning his place as Professor of 
Philosophy in the College, may fitly close this chapter : — 

Providence, March 11, 1779. 

Sir: — Having been impressed with a just sense of the honor conferred upon me in 
my appointment to the jilace of Professor of Philosophy in Rhode Island College, it 
becomes me, with much freedom and sincerity, to acknowledge it. 

I have ever admired the liberal and catholic plan of this College, and esteemed it 
worthy of the State that gave it birth and patronage, which has induced me for many 
years assiduously and cheerfully to contribute towards establishing it on ,a footing, 
with respect to credit and finances, which might entitle it to more able teachers. That 
our young Seminary had well-nigh attained this state of maturity, all circumstances 
conspired to afford us the niost flattering prospect, beforejthe commencement of the 
present war. 

Although experimental philosophy was the direct object of my profession, yet 
other branches of learning were devolved upon me. How far my honest endeavors to 
initiate my pupils in the rudiments of classical learning, and instill into their minds 
the elementary principles of law, the parent of science, and my favorite theme, have 
been attended with success, and answered the good purposes of my appointment, is 
submitted to your honor, the Corporation, the sons of the College, and the public to 
determine. 

Having at length given over all hopes of a revival of classical instruction in this 
College during the continuance of the war, and not feeling disposed so far to take 
advantage of public munificence as to continue to avail myself of the emoluments of 
an office without discharging its duties, I have thought fit, not without weighty delib- 
eration, to resign the professorship. 

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant, 

David Howell. 
Chancellor Hopkins. 



CHAPTER I.X. 

J UBNEY TO P HILADELPHIA. 

April 29 — Sept. 29, 1779. 

Distressed condition of the people of Rhode Island in 1779 — Probable reasons for a 
journey to Philadelphia — Diary or Journal — Manning sets out from Providence 
Thiirsday, April 29— Sunday, May 2, preaches at Mr. James Thurber's in the fore- 
noon, and at Mr. Thompson's in the afternoon — Thursday, May 6, Continental Fast 

— Preaches in the afternoon for Rev. Dr. Nathan Strong, of Hartford — Saturday, 
May 8, preaches to Seventh-day Baptists in Farmington — Description of the country 

— Sunday, May 9, preaches for Rev. Judah Champion, pastor of the Congregational 
church in Litchfield — Monday, crosses chains of tremendous mountains — Tuesday, 
May 11, preaches in the evening at Mr. Waldo's— "Wednesday, 12, crosses Continen- 
tal Ferry — Thursday, 13, reaches the family of his brother-in-law. Rev. John Gano 

— Sunday, 16, preaches twice for Rev. Mr. Randall's people — Tuesday, 18, assists his 
nephews in planting— Sunday, 2.3, preaches again for Mr. Randall at Warwick — 
Monday, 24, sets out for the Jerseys — Reaches Mrs. Manning's home in the evening 

— May 27, visits Elizabethtown — Sunday, 30, preaches at the Scotch Plains Church 

— Meeting interrupted by the march of the American forces— Sunday, June 6, 
preaches with Mr. Stelle, to a large audience — Saturday, 12, preaches at the Scotch 
Plains Church — Sunday, 13, preaches again and administers communion — Sunday. 
20, preaches at Lion's Farms — Monday, June 21. sets out for Philadelphia — In the 
evening preaches at Samuel Randolph's — June 24, visits Dr. Vankirk, and preaches 
in the evening — Visits John Hart, Esq., signer of the Declaration of Independence 

— Accounts of Grain and Indian Corn— June 27, tarries with Rev. William Van 
Horn at Southampton, and preaches — Friiit in this neighborhood cut off by the 
frost — Crops fine —Monday, June 28, reaches Pennepek, and tarries with Rev. Dr. 
Samuel Jones five days — Sketch of Dr. Jones— July 2, Manning arrives at Phila- 
delphia— Puts up at William Goforth's— Calls on Samuel Davis, William Rogers, 
Mr. AVatkins, Mr. Westcot, Dr. Rush, Mr. Moulders, Mr. Hart, and Robert S. Jones 

— Financial embarrassments of the country— Mr. Joseph Hart of the Executive 
Council spends the evening at his lodgings — July 3, breakfasts with Dr. Rush — 
Inquires of Mr. Collins, a member of Congress, relative to the money question — 
Dines at Mr. Redwood's with Hon. William Ellery — Sunday, July 4, preaches twice 

— General Spencer, a member of Congress, spends the evening with him — Monday, 
July 5, importuned by a Committee of the First Baptist Church to tarry with them a 
long time— Sets out in the afternoon for Dr. Jones's— July 7, sets out for Borden- 
town— July 9, preaches in the evening — July 11, preaches at Cranberry — Sick with 
diarrhoea— July 13, preached at the Baptist meeting— July 16, sets out for Piscata- 
way — Mrs. Manning ill— July 17, preaches at Sabbatarian meeting— July 18, 
preaches for Mr. Stelle twice — July 19, returns to the Farms — Report concerning 
General Wayne and Stony Point — July 23, sets out for Hopewell — July 25, preaches 



1779. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 313 

twice and administers the communion — Jnly 2(5, preaches in the afternoon — July 27, 
dines at John Hart's, Newtown — July 29, sets out again for Philadelphia — July SO, 
visits in town — Sees the prisoners taken at Stony Point — Aug. 1, preaches twice — 
Letters from friends — Aug. .5, call from Rev. Morgan Edwards — Aug. 7, visits Capt. 
Falkner, in company with Edwards — Aug. 8, preaches in town three times — Aug. 
10, visits Col. Miles, in company with Edwards and Jones — Description of his 
countr3'-seat — Weather — Crops — Aug. 14, preaches in the evening — Aug. 15, preaches 
twice, and attends funeral of a child — Aug. 16, sets out for Mr. Jones's at Pennepek 

— Finds Mr. Edwards there — Aug. 17, sets out for the Jerseys — Visits his family 
and friends — Sept. 8, sets out for Providence — Sept. 11, reaches the home of his 
brother-in-law, Mr. Gano, and next day jireaches twice at Warwick — Sept. 14, meets 
Lieut. Hubbel on the road, who had come from Newburgh with an invitation from 
West Point — Sept. 16, goes down to West Point by water in Lieut. Hubbel's boat — 
Description of the Fort and Grounds — Introduced to Surgeon McDugal — Dines at 
General Greene's quarters with his family — Is introduced to General Washington, 
General Knox, Baron Steuben, the French Ambassador, and others — Returns up the 
river — Sept. 17, sets out from the Continental Ferry — Journey through Connecticut 

— Description of the country — Characterof the inhabitants — Manner of conducting 
town meetings — Ravages of the w'ar — Reaches home, Sept. 29. 

Thi: previous chapter presents a vivid idea of the general privation 
and suffeiing among the inhabitants of Rhode Island, and especially of 
Providence, during the year 1779. For nearly two years Narragansett 
Bay and all the island towns, at least one-fourth of the State, had been 
in possession of the enemy. External trade was almost entirely sus- 
pended, and the people were unable to procure any adequate supply of 
the necessaries of life. Nearly every able-bodied man was in service, 
either in the State militia or the Continental army, and even the negroes 
and Indian slaves were enlisted as soldiers. The price of labor and of 
all articles of merchandise was fixed by legislative decree. The taxes 
imposed by the State were enormous ; amounting this year to £495,000, 
and in the year following to four times this sum. Paper money, which 
had greatly depreciated in value, was made a legal tender in the payment 
of debts ; and so easily was it counterfeited, that not even the Secretary 
of State could distinguish the genuine from the spurious. In addition 
to all this, the national cause had encountered reverses. Congress was 
reduced to a very low ebb, the ablest members having left it, and the pros- 
pect of independence and peace was overcast with shadows and doubts. 
It was in reference, perhaps, to this alarming state of the currency of 

40 



314. BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. 

the countiy, and in the hope of further aiding by counsel or otherwise 
his distressed fellow-townsmen, that Dr. Manning set out on a journey 
to Philadelphia, visiting on his way his relatives in New York and New 
Jersey. In company with his wife, he left Providence on the 29th of 
April, returning on the 29th of September. He was thus absent just 
iive months, having passed through the States of Rhode Island, Connec- 
ticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The following diary 
or journal was kept by him as they travelled from day to day. It 
abounds in historical incidents and allusions, and presents an excellent 
daguerreotype view of the author's private life. As an illustration of 
the times in which he lived, and of the general condition of society, it is 
an exceedingly valuable document. We have therefore devoted to it an 
entire chapter, illustrating it with such notes as seemed desirable for the 
better understanding of the text. As an evidence of Dr. Manning's 
popularity as a preacher, and of his love for this kind of work, it may 
be added that his services were called into requisition forty-eight times 
during his journey to Philadelphia and the Jerseys. He preached in 
meeting-houses of different denominations, in private dwellings, and 
even in stores and places of business, as the reader will observe. 

Manning's Journal. 

Set out from Providence, Thursday, 29th of April, at six o'clock p. m. Reached Col. 
Abraham Winsor's in the evening ; began to rain ; were hospitably entertained ; ten 
miles. Friday morning, 30th. A cold northeast storm; broke away at 8 o'clock a. m., 
but remained showery and very blustering. Travelled to Mr. John Brown's farm at 
Chepachet, six miles. Refreshed ourselves and horse, and proceeded to Capt. Corliss's, 
Killingly, twelve miles. The roads extremely bad. Spent the afternoon and evening, 
and the next forenoon of May 1, in visiting them and Mr. Jones's family. Set out 
after dinner and visited Gov. Sessions, who has a most excellent farm in good order. 
After tea travelled to Mr. Benjamin Thurber's in Pomfret, six miles. The roads better ; 
tarried over Lord's Day. 

Sunday, May 2. Preached at Mr. James Thurber's, three miles back, in the morning, 
and at Mr. Thompson's in the afternoon. Preached a lecture at Mr. B. Thurber's at 
five o'clock; the house crowded and the audience very attentive and affected. Visited 
Paul Tew, Esq., at "Woodstock, Monday, May 3, a.m., and p.m. Mr. Cahoon's family, 
and dined; also Mr. Lee's, Thompson's, B. Lindsey's, and Esquire Frink's. Borrowed 



1779. AND MANNING. 315 

Mr. Lindsey's trunk; left ours, a jacket, pattern for breeches, white gown, black wool 
hat, Hart's Hymns, and some valuable papers, in Mr. Thurber's care. Set out Tuesday 
morning, May 4, and visited Col. Nightingale, three miles. Spent the forenoon and 
dined. He lives most elegantly ; has a grand farm ; entertained us hospitably. Then 
proceeded to Mr. Jeremiah Brown's, two and one half miles ; ascended a tremendous 
hill, refreshed, and proceeded two and one half miles to Capt. Bowles's, Ashford. 
Tarried all night, well entertained, and set out on the morning of the 5th. Travelled 
six miles to Stephen Snow's, refreshed, and then reached Mr. Robinson's, a pious 
Baptist gentleman, who bids fair to be useful in the ministry, in Mansfield, passing 
through a corner of "Willington ; six miles. Were received with great kindness ; dined. 
Set out and reached an inn in Coventry, seven miles. Fed the horse, and travelled 
fifteen miles through Bolton into East Hartford, to the widow of Capt. Bidwell, a pious. 
Baptist lady, and a good liver. Were kindly entertained, tarried all night, and went 
on for Hartford. Three miles to meeting, it being Thursday, the 6th of May, the Con- 
tinental Fast ; but a severe northwest wind prevented our crossing the ferry for several 
hours. Passed at length, and put up at Bull's Tavern, opposite the town house; were 
unknown to them. In the afternoon went to Mr. Strong's^ meeting, who insisted that 
I should preach, which I did to a very large and attentive audience. After service 

Mr. Strong took us to his house to lodge, and entertained us like a friend, and Capt. 

took our horse from the tavern and kept it well ; both insisting that we should call on 
them again on our way back, as did Mr. Smith. Till within ten or twelve miles of 
Hartford the way is in general mountainous and rocky, but the i^eople live well by 
their industry, of which there are striking indications. The season at Hartford appears 
nearly or quite a fortnight earlier than at Providence. Except Sunday, Monday, and 
Tuesday, the weather very blustering and cold, but no frost. The winter grain looks 
exceedingly jiromising, and a vast quantity of summer grain is put in ; abundance of 
land prejiared for Indian corn ; the fruit not injured by frosts. Fnday morning, May 7. 
Set out for Farmington ; reached Mr. Joseph Woodruff's, ten miles, and tarried to 
dinner ; kindly entertained ; then proceeded to a settlement of Seventh-day Baptists 
in the northwest part of Farmington, ten miles. Tarried at Mr. Covey's, where we 
were kindly treated, and preached Saturday, the 8th inst., to their society, to great 
acceptance; after passing the meadows four miles, the road rough, and an exceeding 
high mount of difScult ascent. The weather cold, and frost at night. The fruit here 
killed. After meeting proceeded through Farmington ; oated at Mr. Baldwin's tavern, 



1 The Rev. Dr. Nathan Strong, pastor of the First Congregational Church. He graduated at 
Yale College in 1769, with the highest honors of his class. He was a remarkable man in his day, 
and exerted among his own denomination, especially, a very important influence. He originated 
the " Connecticut Evangelical Magazine," and in the organization of the " Connecticut Missionary 
Society " had a primary agency. He died in 1816, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. 



316 BEOWlSr UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. 

and reached Mr. Philips's tavern at Litchfield at sundown. The whole of this way 
exceeding mountainous and rough, but the land fertile and well improved; fine fields 
of grain and good buildings all the way. The people here live exceeding well. One 
tedious mountain two and one half miles from Litchfield ; the day warm ; the distance 
thirteen miles. This town is situated on a cold hill, the water bad, and the season 
near a fortnight backward of Hartford. Good lodgings and entertainment at the 
tavern ; the landlady very agreeable. 

Sunday, 'dth. Was waited on by Mr. Champion,^ the Congregationalist minister, 
whom I found to be a worthy, friendly man, and a good preacher. He invited me to 
preach, which I did in the afternoon, to a large audience, with great freedom and to 
good acceptance. The people solemn and attentive. After meeting called on Lawyer 
Reeve, who lives here. Dined with Mr. Champion; lodged with Dr. Smith; an agree- 
able, genteel family. Monday, 10th. Set off at 8 o'clock, accompanied three and one 
half miles by Mr. Champion, whose company was very agreeable. He insisted that 
if we ever came that way again we should make his house our home, as did Dr. Smith 
and Mr. Reeve. The road good this distance, but soon becomes exceeding rough, 
especially Mount Tom, a tremendous precipice near a mile long; at six or seven miles 
after this better to Rawmagin Iron Works, in Washington, eleven miles from Litch- 
field; Landlord Morgan's. After dinner set out to Bull's Iron Works, in Kent, ten 
miles, stopping to oat at Tirril's tavern, half way. Here we crossed successive chains 
of the most tremendous mountains I ever attempted to travel over, and which it was 
just possible to ascend. The whole distance over there is but a barren country, and 
the season very backward, until we come to the Works, where the soil and climate 
seem very different, as the season is much earlier. Refreshed at Landlord Beach's, a 
pretty good house; set off and arrived at Col. Morehouse's, four miles, in the evening. 
Had good entertainment and bed. The last stage a fine country, well improved, good 
buildings, and a good road. Passed Mr. Waldo's meeting-house, one half mile. This 
part of the country greatly divided in politics ; the Tories have done great damage by 
robbing, etc., in this neighborhood. The York line one-half mile this side of Bull's 
Iron Works. Through the mountains observed the grasshoppers as in summer. The 
country here full of good wheat fields, and also their first great preparations for a 
summer crop. Tuesday, May 11. Came to Mr. Waldo's, two miles; out of the road one 
half mile. Being both unwell and greatly fatigued, and our horse also, by yesterday's 
journey, concluded to tarry all day and night. This is in Dutchess County, Pawling's 
Precinct. Between this and Bull's Works passed a considerable riA^er, along the banks 



1 Rev. Judah Champion. He graduated at Yale College in 1751 ; was ordained pastor of the 
church in Litchfield, July 4th, 1753; died in 1810. He preached the Connecticut Election Sermon 
in 1766, which was published. 



n79. AND MANNING. 317 

of which fine and pleasant. Had good lodgings. Mr. Waldo has a good tract of land, 
two hundred acres, patent land, the lease for three lives. At night preached at his 
house, from 2d Cor. iv. 17. The state of religion remarkably cold, and the congregation 
much divided in politics. Wednesdaif, 12th. Set out, after being very hospitably enter- 
tained, and crossed a tedious and long mountain, two miles, before we fully got up; 
the descent easy and the road fine to the westward; the country full of good wheat 
fields. To Capt. Storm's, thirteen miles. Here a genteel tavern and good entertain- 
ment. The militia assembled to send every twelfth man to the frontiers against the 
Indians. Travelled five miles to Capt. Griffin's; fed my horse, and then five miles to 
Fishkill, and fed again. This but a small village, the buildings poor, and much 
injured by the troops. The whole of the road from Capt. Storm's- remarkably fine, and 
the country good and well cultivated, especially with wheat. From hence to the Con- 
tinental Ferry the road and country not eqtially good as before. No horse-keeping at 
the Ferry. No wind, and the tide vmfavorable. Two hands rowed over, and were 
rowing until quite dark; rained steadily : this had been threatened all day by small 
sprinklings. Had a pleasant day for travelling; but now we are landed, in a dark 
rainy night, on a strange shore, and no tavern that had horse-keeping. With much 
difficulty found Col. Hansbrook's, but the kitchen people were in bed; were taken in 
had good entertainment, horse-keeping, and a good bed. Thursday, 13th. Rose, but a 
storm from the northeast and a heavy rain determined us to tarry all day. The family 
very agreeable — high Whigs, and wealthy. Friday, lUh. Cleared away in the morn- 
ing; set out at eight o'clock, and passed through New Windsor, a small village, under 
a disagreeable hill. The road bad here, as it is seven miles, to Mr. Cross's. Stopped 
and rested, but he not at home. From thence to Mr. Owen's, who married Lizzv 
Burden, six miles. There dined. From thence travelled seven miles, and at the 
tavern gave six shillings lawful money for two quarts of oats. From thence reached 
Mr. Gano's,^ five miles, a little before night. He lives in a small log house, on a good 
farm, belonging to a refugee Tory, but much out of repair. Large quantities of wheat 
and rye on the ground along this road, which look tolerably well, but all the fruit 
killed by the frost in April. The cherry trees are again coming out in blossoms, though 
not full. Think there will be no fruit for twenty miles east of the river. Tarried Sat- 
urday, 15th. 

Sunday, IGth. Preached twice for Mr. Randall's people. A handsome congregation 
out, and very attentive. Monday, 11th, Visited Esquire Burt, a good liver and genteel 
people. Tuesday, 18</i. Assisted the boys in planting, and dunging their farm; the 



1 Rev. John Gano, his brother-in-law, pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York, but now 
engaged as chaplain in the army. His family resided here probably until the close of the war. In 
the summer of 1776 the British took possession of New York and its environs, which they evacu- 
ated Nov. 25, 1783. During this time most of the loyal or Whig families were away from the city. 



318 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. 

afternoon and evening was sick ; took a sweat, and was better. Wednesday. 19i/i. 
Nothing but a northeast storm prevents our setting out for the Jerseys. Mr. Gano had 
gone to the army before we arrived here, which is marching to the northward. This is 
a very hilly country, and much good meadow land. Warwick lies within about five 
miles of the Jersey line. The mountains to the southeast are infested with Tory rob- 
bers, who greatly terrify the inhabitants ; thirty of them, or thereabouts, and their 
harborers, have been lately apprehended, and many more have fled, it is supposed to 
New York. A species of grasshoppers were discovered in the wheatfields by men of 
undoubted veracity. From Wednesday to Saturday rain continued from the northeast. 
Tarried till Sunday, 23d. 

Preached again at Warwick; the audience crowded, and mvich affected. Had great 
liberty in preaching. After meeting set out and dined at Col. Hathhorn's, one mile on. 
Proceeded fifteen miles over the mountains to Col. Soward's and lodged. Met kind 
people, and good livers. The house here fortified against robbers, and all sleep armed. 
I rested scarce any all night, through the importunity of a troublesome insect. Mo7iday, 
2ith. Set off before sunrise, and reached Davenjjort's at Newfoundland to breakfast, ten 
miles ; was kindly treated. They refused anything for our eating, as they did at CoL 
Soward's. From thence, ten miles, we reached Esq. Tuttle's. Fed our horse, refreshed 
ourselves, and set oiit for Morristown, twelve miles, where we arrived, between four 
and five o'clock, at Arnold's tavern. This is an extremely hot day, and the travel- 
ling excessively tedious, as well on that as on account of the rocky mountainous 
country, which extends from Warwick within about three miles of Morristown. The 
greatest part of this country unsettled, and consequently in general, till within about 
ten miles of Morristown, all this part of the country full of grain. Set out about sun- 
down, and reached Mr. Stites's,^ about 11 o'clock, very much fatigued. Found the old 
people somewhat indisposed, but all very glad to see us. From 25th to 27th, tarried at 
the farm ; then went to Elizabethtown and tarried till the 28th at Brother Woodruff's. 
The town and suburbs less damaged by the enemy than I expected.^ 

Sunday, 30th. Preached at the Plains,^ but the meeting much interrupted by the 
march of the Pennsylvania line, under General St. Clair towards the North River.* 



^ John Stites, Esq., father of Mrs. Manning. 

2 On the 28tli of February, 1779, a party of British troops, sent toy Clinton from New York, landed 
at Elizabethtown Point, for the express purpose of taking " the rebel governor," as they called him, 
Livingston, whose residence was here at Elizabethtown. Not finding him at home, they seized his 
papers, burned a few dwellings, and departed for New York. 

2 The Scotch Plains Baptist Church, of which Maning had been a member. 

* A large portion of Washington's army had been encamped, or hutted, as Hildreth terms it, at 
Middletorook and vicinity, near Elizabethtown, during the previous winter and spring. The 
encampment broke up at this time ; hence the disturbance of public worship caused by the 
marching of the troops northward, of which the Pennsylvania line under St. Clair formed a part. 



1779. AND MANNING. 319 

Went to Sister Tingley's, and tarried till Tuesday. Tuesday, June \st. A fine rain on 
Monday ; went to Brother Joseph Manning's/ and tarried all night. Wednesday, accom- 
panied by him and wife, visited Uncle Joseph Randolph, and reached Jeremiah Man- 
ning's at Bordentown. Tarried till Friday, June 4. There heard the cheering account 
of the Charleston victory,- and the moving of the whole army to North River. After- 
noon crossed Crown Ferry, and lodged at Capt. Morgan's, Chester Quakers; ten miles. 
Saturday, 5(h. Set out early, and reached Mr. Buckalaw's, two miles, to breakfast. 
Met with Messrs. Stelle * and Coles,' and proceeded to Bray's meeting-house. Mr. Stelle 
preached. Lodged at the widow Holmes's ; an agreeable family. 

Sunday, 6th. Mr. Stelle and myself preached. Had a large audience. Monday, 7th. 
Messrs. Coles and D. Jones* preached, and also had a large audience. Lodged this night 
at the widow Molly Holmes's; a fine family. This is a most excellent part of the 
country for land- and excellent crops ; but the shores are greatly infested, and the inhab- 
itants robbed, by Tories, who have fled to the enemy. Tuesday, June 8. In company 
with Messrs. Stelle and Jones came to Mr. Dennis's at Spotswood, to dinner, thirteen 
miles ; agreeable jieople. Nine miles to Brunswick, where at Capt. Dennis's we tarried 
Tuesday night. Wednesday, 9th. Crossed the river at the landing, and came to Uncle 
Ephraim's and tarried. Brunswick much injured by the British. Thursday, 10th. 
Visited Mr. Stelle, Aunt Manning, and tarried at Uncle Joseph Randolph's. Friday, 
11th. Returned to the Farms ; found parents ill. Saturday, 12th. Preached at the 
Plains and returned. 

Sunday, 13th. Preached again, gave out the communion service, and tarried at Rev. 
Mr. Miller's. A fine rain this day, though the meetings not interrupted. 14th. Returned 
to the Farms. A great rain, followed by a succession of thunder-showers, to-day. 
Sister Tingley and Joseph Manning's wife came and tarried the night. Went to town, 
and brought sister Woodruff, upon the 15th. The season remarkably good, and the grain 
extraordinary, as well as grass, through the country. Wednesday, June 16. Fine 
weather. Rain in the afternoon. 17th, 18th, and 19th, tarried at Papa Stites's. 

Preached at Lyon's Farms, the 20th, two sermons. The people in the morning service 
very attentive and affected, and the meeting tolerably full. Returned, and on Monday, 
the 21st, set out for Philadelphia. Visited Messrs. Miller and Joseph Manning, and 



1 Joseph Manning was a ruling elder of the Scotch Plains Church, having been elected to this 
oflBee on the 10th December, 1777. 

2 Referring to the invasion of Charleston by the British under Prevost, in May previous, and 
their repulse by the Continental troops and militia under Moultrie and Rutledge. 

' Rev. Isaac Stelle, pastor of the Piscataway Baptist Church, and Rev. Benjamin Coles, pastor of 
the church at Hopewell. 

*The Rev. David Jones, formerly of New Jersey, but now a distinguished chaplain in the army 
Tinder General St. Clair. 



320 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. 

dined. Preached, at 6 o'clock, with great freedom, at Capt. Samuel Randolph's, and 
tarried all night. Set out the 22d and visited Capt. "William Manning, Jacob Martin, 
Esq., Major Edgar, and Benjamin Manning, Esq., who, with his lady, accompanied us to 
Brother Jeremiah Manning's, where we tarried. 23d. Accompanied with brother and 
wife, kinsman and his, went to Mr. Stelle's ; thence to Brunswick. Heard Mr. Miller 
preach from the words of Hannah. Dined at Mr. Wall's. Called at Mr. Dennis's, and 
set out at four o'clock for Hopewell; reached Mr. Barton's at nine o'clock in the even- 
ing. The day hot. Next day, 24th, visited Dr. Vankirk's, to see aunt, and preached at 
the meeting-house at six o'clock. But few out. Next morning, Friday, 25th, visited 
Messrs. Coles and Blackwell, and reached John Hart's, Esq.,^ at Newtown, two o'clock 
p. M. ; were detained the night by a seasonable heavy rain, and treated most hospita- 
bly. The weather most intensely hot. English grain the best and in the greatest quan- 
tity from Brunswick here that I ever saw; but the Indian corn backward and poor in 
general, owing to the cold and wet of the former part of the season. 26th. Set out to 
Neshaminy Ford, but imjtassable by the great fall of rain. Went four miles up the 
creek to the bridge, which, being taken iip, we were detained till four o'clock p. m. at 
Mr. Cozens's, when the water subsided, and we passed. The road from Newtown herfe 
very bad, but the creek to Southampton good, where we reached, before sunset Mr. Van 
Horn's.- Found the family well. 

Stayed the 27th, and preached at the meeting-house. But few people out. Mr. Coles 
was expected. After meeting returned, and tarried till Monday. On June 4th a report 
prevailed in Woodbridge that the British army at Charleston were totally defeated, 
with the loss of fourteen hundred killed and wounded, and seven hundred taken. 
Repeated reports somewhat similar, though not making their loss so great, have been 
constantly broiaght from the South ; but no official account confirming it has yet come 
to hand.^ All the fruit nearly cut off by the great frost in these parts. The crops 



1 A signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a prominent member of the Baptist cliiirch 
in Hopewell, of which Rev. Isaac Eaton was pastor. He gave to the society the land on which the 
meeting-house was erected. In 1865, a fine monumental shaft of Quincy granite was erected by the 
State in honor of his memory. In the dedicatory address upon the occasion by George Joel Parker, 
occurs the following r — " He was a true patriot. I am of the opinion, after a careful examination of 
the history of New Jersey during and immediately preceding the Revolutionary War, that John 
Hart had greater experience in the Colonial and State legislature of that day than any of his contem- 
poraries, and that no man exercised greater influence in giving direction to the public opinion 
which culminated in independence." 

2 Rev. William Van Horn. He was born in 1746; educated at Dr. Samuel Jones's Academy at 
Pennepek; ordained as pastor over the Baptist church at Southampton, Pa.; honored with the 
degree of Master of Arts from the Rhode Island College 1774 ; and during the Revolutionary War 
was an efficient and honored chaplain. He died in 1807 in the sixty-first year of his age. 

3 Reports then must have quite equaled if not excelled the exaggerated telegraphic reports 
during the recent Civil War. The simple facts as recorded in history are as follows : The British 



1779. AND MANNING. 321 

incomparably fine, but some fields near the river struck with the red rust, though but 
little hurt. Rye harvest begun, and wheat will be here this week. 

Monday, June 2Sth. Set out and travelled to Pennepek, Mr. Jones's.' Arrived in the 
evening, and found the family well and glad to see us. Tarried here till July 2d. 
Spent the time agreeably in viewing the farm, its products, harvest, etc., and in con- 
versation. The season here extremely hot ; height of wheat harvest ; the grain struck 
with the red rust, though little injured, except the rye, which is much blasted. The 
greatest part of the harvest between here and Philadelphia, where we arrived at eleven 
o'clock A. M., July 2. Put up at Mr. William Goforth's, and my horse across the way, 
in Second Street, between Race and Vine Streets. Visited Samuel Davis, but he was 
out of town; also Mr. Rogers. Called at Mr. "Watkins's, then at Mr. Westcot's ; from 
thence to Dr. Rush's,^ who treated me politely ; from thence called on Messrs. Shields 



in 1779 made a second invasion of South Carolina under General Prevost, and were eyentually 
repulsed. On the 11th of May, Prevost with nine hundred regulars crossed the Ashley, leaving his 
main army on the south side of the river. During the forenoon Count Pulaski with his legion, 
attacked the British advanced guard, and was repulsed with great slaughter. Prevost now 
advanced to the American lines, but in the night, after summoning the city to surrender, with- 
drew to James Island, fearing the approach of General Lincoln with an army of four thousand; 
men. On the 20th of June the British were attacked by about twelve hundred of Lincoln's men, 
and the assailants were repulsed. Loss about three hundred killed, wounded, and missing on each 
side. Three days afterwards the British evacuated the island. (See Lossing's Fleld-Book, etc.) 

1 Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones, one of Manning's intimate friends. He was three years his senior, 
having been born in the year 1735. Of the church of Pennepek, afterwards called Lower Dublin, 
he was the honored and esteemed pastor upwards of flfty-one years. He was also an educator of 
youth, and in this latter capacity was greatly distinguished, being especially judicious and con- 
siderate to such young men under his care as had the ministry in view. On the death of Manning, 
in 1791, he was named by many of the Trustees and Fellows of the College as his successor in the 
presidency. (See letters of Stillman and Howell at the close of our thirteenth chapter.) He ren- 
dered important service as chairman of a committee sent to Newport from Philadelphia to prepare 
for the General Assembly a draft for the College charter. 

Dr. Jones was one of the most useful members of the Philadelphia Association. " Here," says 
Sprague in his Annals, " he is appointed to frame a system of discipline, and there to compile a 
book of hymns, and then to draw up a map representing the various associations ; one year he 
holds the office of moderator, and the next he writes the circular letter to the churches, and the 
next performs some other public service; — indeed, it is impossible to look through the minutes 
without perceiving that he was always one of the master spirits of the body. Few men could 
manage more adroitly than he a difficult and involved case ; and sometimes, by a single suggestion, 
in a deliberative body, he would bring light out of the thickest darkness, and order out of the 
wildest confusion." In 1807 he preached the century sermon of the Association, which was pub- 
lished. He died Feb. 7, 1814, in the eightieth year of his age. 

Dr. Jones was a ready writer and a fluent speaker. In his person he is described as a large and 
firmly built man, six feet or more in height, weighing upwards of three hundred pounds, and every 
way well proportioned. His face was the very image of intelligence and good-nature ; which, with 
the air of dignity that pervaded all his movements, rendered his appearance uncommonly attrac- 
tive. He possessed an ample fortune, which he used with signal grace and hospitality. 

2 Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence ; distinguished for his 
learning and piety, as well as for his great professional skill. He was educated at the College of 
New Jersey, graduating in 1760, two years before Manning. 

41 



322 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IX. 

and Moulders. Called at Mr. Hart's lodging, bnt he not within, which was also the 
case at Mr. Robert S. Jones's. The evening of July 2, Mr. Joseph Hart, of the Execu- 
tive Council, spent at my lodgings. Saturday, July 2>d. This morning came out a 
paper, in which Congress was handled pretty severely, under the signature of Leoni- 
das.^ Breakfasted at Dr. Rush's, and received two hundred dollars, Dr. Finley's draft 
on him. Spent the forenoon chiefly in writing to Providence, by Mr. Ellery, who sets 
off this afternoon. Went to the State House. Met Mr. Collins, and inquired, without 
much satisfaction, what was on foot in Congress relative to the money. Dined at Mr. 
;Redwood's with Mr. Ellery, and returned to my lodgings, where were Messrs. Shields 
and Conolly, who spent the afternoon with us. 

Lord's Day, July ith. Preached twice with some freedom ; the morning congregation 
thin ; more in the afternoon. Both church and society here in a broken state. The 
people urgent for my tarrying a considerable time, which did not suit my affairs. In 
the evening visited one of the members of the church near her end. Appeared to be 
in a happy frame of mind. Attended a religious society composed of Baptists, Presby- 
terians, and Church people. They appeared very serious, and somewhat engaged in 



1 The financial embarrassments of the country were exceedingly great at this period, in conse- 
quence of the rapid depreciation of the paper currency, of which Congress had emitted, on the 1st 
of September, 1799, one hundred and sixty millions. A spirit of discontent, of speculation and of 
fraud was everywhere manifest. "The honest and patriotic were impoverished, while rogues and 
Tories grew rich." As an ilhistration of the perils and difficulties of this crisis, we print the 
following handbill, which was posted in the streets of Philadelphia about this time. Similar bills 
were posted in other cities. 

"FOB OUR country's GOOD. 

" The depreciation of our money, and the high price to which everything is got, is one and the 
same thing. We ask not who introduced the evil, how it arose, or who encouraged it. In the 
midst of money we are in jioverty, and exposed to want in the land of plenty. You that have 
money, and you that have none, down with your prices, or down with yourselves ; for, by the ever- 
living and eternal God, we will bring every article down to what it was last Christmas, or we will 
down with those who oppose it. 

" We have turned out against the enemy, and we wish not to be eaten up by monopolizers and 
forestallers. 

MOVE ON COOLLY." 

" It gives me very sincere pleasure," writes Washington to his friend Reed, now President of 
Pennsylvania, "that the Assembly is so well disposed to second your endeavors in bringing those 
murderers of our cause, the monopolizers, forestallers, and engrossers, to condign punishment. 
It is much to be lamented that each State, long ere this, has not hunted them down as pests of 
society, and the greatest enemies we have to the happiness of America. I would to God that some 
one of the more atrocious in each State was hung in gibbets upon a gallows five times as high as 
the one prepared for Haman, No punishment, in my opinion, is too severe for the man who can 
build his greatness upon his country's ruin." Wlien Washington wrote in this way, what, says 
Hildreth, was to be expected of the inconsiderate multitude? 



1119. AND MANNING. 323 

religion. Found General Spencer* at my lodgings, now a member of Congress. It 
being the Fourth of July, the anniversary of Independence, the chaplains of Congress 
preached suitable to the occasion, and Congress attended. High mass was celebrated 
and Te Deum sung at the Romish chapel. The gentlemen of the town were invited by 
billets from the French minister to attend. I suppose these causes rendered the Bap- 
tist meeting thinner than otherwise. The lowering of prices by the committee is con- 
sidered by the town as a violent measure and only a temporary relief, but think it will 
share the fate of former State bills.- The suburbs of this city greatly destroyed by the 
English, but the body of it not much damaged. A fine rain on the night of the 4th 
of July. Some more apples in these parts than in the Jerseys, though but few. 
Monday, 5th. Breakfasted at Mr. Shields's, where a committee from the church met 
and importuned me to tarry with them some time, or come again and make them a 
longer visit. I gave them hopes of the latter after the four Sabbaths of this month. 
Went to Mr. David Bowers's, and thence to Mr. Moulders's ; then to hear the oration at 
the Dutch church. The performance indifferent. Congress and the French Ambassa- 
dor present, and a large assembly. Here met Mr. Merchant, and called at his lodgings. 
Received an invitation to dine at Prof. Lawrens's, but we dined at Mr. Westcot's. 
Returned to our lodgings. Were visited by Messrs. Shields, Britain, and Gen. Spencer. 
Set out in the afternoon for Mr. Jones's, where we arrived in the evening. The 
weather intensely hot. Tuesday', 6th. Tarried at Mr. Jones's, and set out on the 7th 
for Bordentown. Dined at Bristol, and reached Mr. Alison's before night. Passed the 
ruins of Mr. Kirbright's buildings ; the river three-fourths of a mile wide ; the ruins 
of the vessels burned by the English on the east shore, as also the stores, and the 
dwelling-house of Mr. Joseph Borden, treasurer.^ There met Mr. Stites, from Cran- 



* Joseph Spencer. He was born in Connecticut, in 1714. He was a major in the colonial army 
in 1756, and was one of the first eight brigadiers appointed by the Continental Congress in 1775. 
He was appointed a major-general in 1776, and in 1777 was in command of the American forces on 
Rhode Island. After his resignation he was elected a delegate to Congress from his native State. 
He died in East Haddam, in January, 1789, aged seventy-five. 

' A short time after this (October 4th), a riot took place in Philadelphia in consequence of this 
attempt of a committee to regulate the prices of flour, rum, sugar, molasses, colTee, salt, etc. 
Robert Morris and other leading merchants refused to conform to the regulation. Wilson, Clymer, 
Mifflin, and their friends were threatened with banishment to New York, as abettors and defend- 
ers of the Tories. Soon afterwards (October '20th), a convention of the five Eastern States was 
held at Hartford, at which a plan was elaborated, which Congress adopted, regulating prices on 
the basis of twenty paper dollars for one of specie. Dr. Manning's visit to Philadelphia doubtless 
had reference to some measures of relief of this kind from the oppressive laws of Rhode Island 
and other States, passed by recommendation of Congress, which made paper money a legal tender. 

3 On the 7th of May, 1778, six or seven hundred British troops left Philadelphia for the purpose 
of destroying vessels which were lying in Barnes's and Crosswick's Creeks at Bordentown. They 
burned two frigates, destroyed several smaller vessels, burned several residences and buildings on 
their return, and seized considerable property. 



324 BEOWN UNIYERSITT Chap. IX. 

berry, wMch detained us until Saturday, July lOth. "Were hospitably treated by the 
family, Col. Hogland, Dr. Moore, Mr. Borden, and Mr. Kirbright. Preached on Friday 
evening, and set out in the morning for Cranberry, in company with Col. Hogland and 
Mr. Stites. Reached Cranberry to dine. Found the Doctor well, and glad to see us. 

Preached for Mr. Smith Sunday the 11th. The day rainy and few people out. At 
night had a severe diarrhoea, which continued the 12th, so that I kept house in much 
pain. 13th. The diarrhoea abated ; the weather fine and cool, as there fell a vast quan- 
tity of rain on Lord's Day and evening, accompanied by abundance of thunder and 
lightning. This morning Mr. Stelle called on us on his way to Philadelphia, and 
informed us that accounts are received of the burning of New Haven by the British, 
and that they are destroying all in their way in that quarter. ^ Preached to-day at the 
Baptist meeting. Tarried the 14th and 15th. Still much indisposed. 16th. Set out 
for Piscataway, called at Brunswick, and reached Bonham Town. Mrs. Manning very 
ill since the 12th : scarce able to ride. My brother in great fear of the enemy. Was 
interrupted till midnight by the seizure of a trunk of goods. 17th. "Went to Mr. Ben- 
jamin Manning's. Left my spouse, and preached at the Sabbatarian meeting; return- 
ing to our lodgings at Benjamin Manning's, Esq. 

Sunday, July 18th. Preached for Mr. Stelle twice, dined at lodgings, and came on to 
Brother Joseph's. 19th. Returned to the Farms. To-day heard that the British fleet 
at Stony Point was taken by General "Wayne, with five hundred prisoners.* Found 
our parents as well as usual, and tarried there, Mrs. Manning being very unwell, 20th, 
21st, and 22d. Set out Saturday, July 23d, for Hopewell. Left my mare with Swan's 
horse. Called on Mr. Miller, who was in ill health. Stopped ai; Capt. Randolph's, 
dined at Benjamin Manning's ; called at Mr. Stelle's, but he was not at home ; met him 
at Mr. Hall's in Brunswick. Reached Mr. Prince's, at Rocky Hill. The day very hot 
and dusty, and my horse travelled hard and greatly fatigued. Distance thirty-two 
miles. Saturday, 24i7i. "Was unable to find my horse until late in the morning. 
Reached Mr. Barton's at Hopewell, ten miles, much fatigued. The meeting opened 
by a sermon from Mr. Pitman, to good acceptance. Peter Smith also attended. 

Lord's Day, 25th. Preached twice, and gave out the communion to a part of the 
church, as they are unhappily divided about their minister, Mr. Coles. The day 



1 Referring to the invasion of Connecticut by the British, under Governor Tyron of New York, 
and Brigadier-General Garth, in the early part of July, 1779, during which they plundered New 
Haven, and burned Fairfield and Norwalk. 

2 This, says Lossing, in his Field-Book of the Kevolution, was regarded as the most brilliant 
achievement of the war, and raised the hero Wayne to the highest point in the admiration of his 
countrymen. The fortress, which was regarded as impregnable, was taken on the night of July 
16th. Conversing with "Washington on the expedition and the obstacles to be overcome, Wayne is 
said to have remarked with emphasis, '• General, I'll storm hell, if you will only plan it." 



1779. AND MANNING. 325 

exceedingly rainy, but the house full. Monday, 2&th. Mr. Joshua Jones came and 
preached in the morning; a good sermon. I closed the meeting in the afternoon. 
Tuesday, 27th. In company with Mr. Smith reached Samuel Jones's, thirty miles; 
caught in a thunder-shower and got very wet; dined at John Hart's, Esq., at New 
Town. Tarried Wednesday, 28th, and set out, after a rainy morning, Thursday, 29th, 
for Philadelphia, twelve miles. Put up my horse at Mr. Shield's; called on some 
friends, and took quarters at Mr. Samuel Davis's. Friday, July 30th. Visited some 
friends in town. Saturday, 31st. Saw the British prisoners taken at Stony Point 
march in ; fine looking men. Dined at Mr. Goforth's. 

Sunday, Aug. 1st. Preached twice. The congregation pretty large, — more so than 
usual here, — and very attentive. Spent the evening at a religious conference, where 
there seemed a degree of quickening and freedom. Aug. 2d. A storm of rain from the 
northeast, which continued the next day ; heat intense. I tarried mostly at my lodgings. 
Aug.ith. Wrote letters to Providence, to the church and Nicholas Brown. Aug. 5th. 
The account of the defeat of the British by the French fleet in the West Indies arrived. 
Spent the evening at Major Goforth's, in company with several gentlemen. Here I met 
Major Somner, ten days from Providence, who tells me that things are agreeable in that 
quarter, which I was also informed of by a letter from General Varnum, received yes- 
terday. G. Brigade is come to headquarters, which I heard by a line from Van Horn, at 
the same time. Friday, 6th. Delivered my letters to Mr. Somner. This day Mr. 
Edwards called upon me, and tarried in town several days. Saw General Spencer and 
Mr. Collins. Abundance of rumors concerning the West India affair. Visited in town 
in the forenoon. Saturday, 1th. Went with Mr. Edwards to Capt. Falkner's, five miles, 
and spent the afternoon agreeably. 

Sunday, Aug. 8th. Preached three times. The assembly full, and the people so impor- 
tunate for another Sabbath that I concluded to stay. 9th. Messrs. Jones, Blackwell, 
and Nathaniel Stout came to town ; the former tarried with me one night. Tuesday, 10th. 
Mr. Edwards, in company with Jones and myself, set out for Col. Miles's.' Distance 
thirteen miles. Arrived in the evening, and he and lady next morning, from town. 
He has a most elegant seat, gardens, meadows, etc., and a most remarkable spring, which 
turns three wheels in one-fourth of a mile from its source. Spent three days very agree- 
ably, and on the 13th set out for town, Mr. Edwards returning with Mr. Jones. The 
weather extremely hot, and abundance of rain. The Indian corn crop incomparably fine, 
the buckwheat forward, and the second crop of grass cutting. This is an agreeable part 
of the country. Preached this evening, Saturday, 14th. Visited Major Goforth's ; paid 
my barber; received one hundred dollars of Mr. Rogers, as per order; called at Mr. 
Morris's, and dined at Mr. Ball's. 



1 Colonel Miles, Chairman of the Committee of Safety, who in the early part of the war took 
Morgan Edwards to his house and hid him in order to secure him from arrest. See page 15. 



326 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. 

Sunday, Aug. 15th. Extremely hot. Preached twice, attended the funeral of a child, 
and drank chocolate at Mr. Turner's. Richard Lemon and hoth the McKims, from Bal- 
timore, at meeting. Moiulmj, 16th. Visited Mr. Moulders's, and attended the meeting of 
the church and society, who unanimously agreed to get the pulpit supplied. Chose a 
committee of eight, half from the church and half from the society, to raise the necessary 
supplies for that purpose, and to call Mr. Gano for one year. At two o'clock set out for 
Mr. Jones's. Preached at Pennepek at five o'clock. Tarried with Mr. Jones and Mr. 
Edwards. The weather intensely hot; though the season uncommonly wet. Tuesday, 
Aug. 11th. Set out for Bordentown, where I dined. Reached Cranberry, Dr. Stites's, at 
night, 18th. Reached Brunswick, and dined at Robert Huder's, where I met with Mrs. 
Gano and John. Reached Mr. Stites's in the evening, and found all well. The Indian 
corn incomparably fine through the whole country. Thursday, IQth. Went to Elizabeth- 
town, and returned in the evening. Dined at Dr. Dayton's, Spent the 20th and 21st at 
the Farms. The weather rainy. 

Sunday, 22d. Preached at the Plains with Mr. Stelle, who preached at six o'clock at 
Morristown. Tarried at Brother Joseph's. A terrible rain at night. My brother very 
sick with the bilious fever. Jeremiah and son and daughter tarried there also. Monday,. 
23d. Visited Uncle Joseph Randolph ; in a deep consumption, to all appearances, but 
comfortable in mind, From thence, through Samptown, I visited Sister Tingley, who 
has broken her right arm by a fall, and dislocated her wrist. Dined and went to Dead 
River to Brother Jno. Manning's and tarried the night. His eldest daughter sick. His 
farm is much improved since I saw it, and he lives comfortably. Visited Uncle "William 
Stites, Mr. Tingley, Cousin Jno. Manning, Mr. Miller, Mr. Brooks, and returned to the 
Farms on Tuesday evening, 24th. Wednesday went to Elizabethtown, visited friends, 
and tarried two days, returning to the Farms Thursday evening. Admiral Arbuthnot's 
fleet said to have arrived at New York, but the particulars have not come to hand. 
Friday, 21th. Tarried at home. The season very sickly, but not mortal yet. Yesterday 
the weather cleared up cool and fine. Continued at home Saturday. 

Lord's Day, Aug. 2Wi. Preached at Lyon's Farms. The audience serious and attentive. 
Tarried at home till Thursday, the 2d of September, and then, accompanied by parents, 
visited Stites, Woodruff, dined, and then i^roceeded to Bonham Town, calling on two of 
the sisters on the way, and observing the desolations at Woodbridge. Sept. od. Rainy, 
but in the afternoon went to Joseph Manning's ; a heavy rain on the way; found him 
and two children sick. Sept. ^th. Went to Joseph Tingley's ; found my sister better ; 
preached at the meeting-house. Lord's Day. Saw many old friends and acquaintances, 
and all my brothers but Joseph. After bidding the last farewell, returned to the Farms 
in the evening, calling on Mr. Miller on the way, who is much recovered. Tarried at 
home Monday, 6th, and were visited by Sister Woodruff. The season remarkably sickly 



1779. • AND MANNING. ' 327 

throughout the country, but the mortality not very great. The complaints are intermit- 
ting fevers and agues. Tuesday, 1th. Tarried at home and rested; in the afternoon 
preached. Mr. Miller came, and we had something of a comfortable season. 

Wednesday , Sept. 8th. Set out for Providence. Were accompanied by parents four 
miles. Left Sister Woodruff at papa's ; called and rested at Dr. Smith's at Chatham, 
seven miles. Dined at Col. Dunham's in Morristown, seven miles. Were kindly 
treated. The family sick, and himself indisposed. Set out at four o'clock and reached 
Rockaway, nine miles. Tarried at Jackson's, at the Forge. A thunder-shower in the 
night, and bedbugs, prevented sleep ; otherwise good entertainment. Paid six dollars. 
The road much better this way than over the mountains. Set out on the morning 
of the 9th, to Esquire Moses Tuttle's, five miles. The road bad. Breakfasted and 
reached Davenport's to dinner; the road extremely bad; distance ten miles. After- 
noon visited Col. Soward's, ten miles. The road bad; tarried the night, and were 
kindly entertained. 10th. Travelled to Col. Hathhorn's, fourteen miles, and dined; 
afternoon reached Mr. Gano's, three and one-half miles. The road better over the 
mountains, though the mountains exceedingly bad. Saturday, 11th. Tarried at Mr. 
Gano"s. 

Lord's Day, preached at Warwick twice. The assembly full and very solemn. 
After meeting dined at Mr. Beard's, who had prepared an elegant dinner, and were 
treated very hospitably. Tarried at Mr. Gano's Monday. Took a very great cold. 
Mrs. Manning but indifferently well, and Sally and Dicky sick. Tuesday, Sept. 14th. Set 
out, dined at Mr. Owen's, and reached Mr. Fought's in the evening. Met Lieut. Hubbel 
on the road, who came out from Newburgh for this purpose. Met also Capt. Wiley from 
Providence, who informs me they are well in general. We were received and treated 
very kindly at Mr. Fought's, where we lodged; and Wednesday, 1.5th, I visited Isaac 
Belnap, and was visited by Mr. Edmonds. Preached in the afternoon at the Conti- 
nental store. The people attentive and affected, and very desirous of another sermon. 
Visited Dea. Lawrence at the Landing, and returned in the evening to our lodgings. 
Ever since Sunday the wind fresh at the northeast, cloudy and very cold ; at its first 
rising a boat was upset in this ferry Sunday morning, and two young ladies were 
drowned. 

Thursday, Sepi. Idth. Went down to West Point by water in Lieut. Hubbel's boat. 
The French Ambassador's secretaries in company. One of them spoke English ; a most 
accomplished gentleman, and the handsomest Frenchman I ever saw. The other was 
agreeable, as were their attendant gentlemen, but could not converse much in English. 
We had an agreeable passage, and were greatly entertained by the highlands through 
which we passed. Those huge, vast mountains, with their cloudy tops, approach near 
together as the river narrows. At about eleven o'clock we reached Gen. Washington's 
quarters, — a beautiful, level spot one mile north of the Point, surrounded by those 



328 ■ BEOWN UNIYERSITY. - Chap. IX. 

precipices. His Excellency, the Ambassador, with a number of the generals, were 
gone to reconnoitre the fort. There I met Dr. Cochrane, Surgeon General of the army, 
who seemied very glad to find me in camp. After examining a correct map of this fort, 
shown us by one of the General's aids, and taking a drink, we sailed over to the Point, 
which is fitted by nature to form an exceeding strong port. Up to the top of the Point 
is a great ascent, and there a plain on which stands Fort Arnold, at the last part of the 
Point. A very strong fortress, with excellent bomb-proofs, and bastions below to 
defend the great chain stretched across just after the river turns west. The opposite 
shore is also strongly fortified to defend the chain, from what is called the island, and 
all the heights also on the east side of the river, to prevent their landing and bombard- 
ing the fort. These works, viewed from the Point, look most beautiful. These were 
shown us by Gen. McDugal, who commands this fortress. Fort Putnam stands on a 
great eminence at half a mile distance west from this, and commands Fort Arnold. 
This is the strongest work ever raised in English America, and is utterly, from its 
situation, inaccessible but on the northern side, where all the force of art is exerted to 
strengthen it by walls without walls, the outermost of which is laid with lime and 
stone, with bomb-proofs, etc., etc. This is also defended by all the commanding 
heights. The approach of an army by land is next to impossible from the west side 
of the river, as there are but few ways, and those almost impassable, and all strongly 
defended. The troops were encamped on both sides of the river on the most conven- 
ient grounds. I dined at Gen. Greene's quarters with his family, Mr. Olney, Col. 
Morris, Major Littlefield, and Col. "Webb, as the General had not returned. Soon after, 
he, with Gen. Knox, returned, with whom had a little chat. Shortly afterward, his 
Excellency, General Washington, the French Ambassador, and Baron Steuben, with 
their retinues, returned, to all of whom I was introduced by Gen. Greene. The 
Ambassador is a good-looking, ruddy-complexioned man as I ever saw for a French- 
man. His family are extremely polite.' 

Having viewed the works, we returned up the river, had a good time, and arrived at 
New Windsor after sunset, and at Newburgh in the evening. Friday, Sept. 11th. The 
morning was foggy, which prevented our setting out early. Crossed the river with an 
easy time, and set out from the Continental Ferry between ten and eleven o'clock. 
Passing Fishkill, took the Danbury road, stopped at a private house to oat, and then 
reached Col. Luddington's, twenty-two miles ; then reached Esquire Patterson's, four 
miles, at Fredericksburg. The road good fifteen miles, and then exceeding bad, over 



1 This invitation to visit West Point, as extended to Manning and his wife, through Lieut. 
Hubbel, and the attention shown them hy the generals and officers in command, afford a pleasing 
illustration of Dr. Manning's character and social position. He associated with the first men of his 
times, and on terms of equality. Few persons of his day could be called his superiors, save in the 
externals of worldly prosperity. 



1779. AND MANNING. 329 

rocks and mountains. Saturday, \Wi. Set out at sunrise. The road good three miles, 
and then exceeding bad toDanbury, fourteen miles, where we arrived at eleven o'clock. 
Put up at Capt. Clarke's. Good entertainment. The ruins of the town are affecting, 
marked with the traces of British inhumanity.^ This town was considerably large, and 
prettily situated between the mountains, with a good soil. Apples are plenty here. 
Some few were to be seen at the river, and a gradual increase. The Indian corn excel- 
lent on this side of the river, and the pastures good. Very difficult to get good enter- 
tainment. At two o'clock set out through Bethel, to which is a good road three miles. 
Then we ascend the shocking mountains which reach to Reading, five miles, Bitt's 
Tavern. This is a pretty village on a hill. From thence we reached North Fairfield, 
five miles, to Esquire Wakeman's, a jjrivate house. Had good entertainment. 

Sabbath moiviing, 19th. Reached Greenfield, Mr. Tennent's,- six miles. "Were most 
kindly received. I preached twice. A large congregation and attentive. Drank tea at 
Dr. Rogers's, Mr. Tennent's sister, an agreeable people, who spent the evening with us 
at our lodgings. The road stony, but not so bad here. The husbandry very good 
through all this rough country, in which are raised good crops of wheat. Great crojis of 
flax are raised in these parts, though not so good this year. The husbandry in Green- 
field is good, and the inhabitants very good livers. Mr, Tennent well settled. Monday 
morning, Sept. 20th. Went to Fairfield, three miles, and viewed the ruins of that once 
beautiful place, which shocked me exceedingly. Very few buildings remain. Ninety- 
six houses, besides barns and stores, were burned. From thence reached Esq. Hubbel's 
at Stratford, three miles, to dinner. Visited Mr. Ross, who is sick with the fever and 
ague. There I saw Mr. Elliot, of Fairfield, who is also sick, as indeed are a great part 
of the people in this neighborhood. Peggy not at home. The family very kind ; tarried 
here all night. She arrived in the evening ; is kindly treated by the family, who are 
plain, good-living farmers. I took a walk to the southward of the road, and viewed a 
most beautiful, level country, suited to wheat, and the inhabitants very good livers ; 
their buildings very good, and their crops excellent. Spent the evening at Esquire 
Brother's, a likely agreeable man. Tuesday, Sept. 21st. Set out at nine o'clock, through 



lOn the 2Cth of April, 1777, about two thousand British troops, commanded by Gov. AVilliam 
Tyron, reached the village of Danbury between one and two o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose 
of destrojnng the military stores in that town. They left the next morning, after committing 
various excesses, burning the new meeting-house, nineteen dwellings, twenty-two stores and barns 
and an immense amount of stores and provisions for the American army. 

' Rev. William MacKay Tennent, a distinguished Presbyterian minister. He graduated at the 
College of New Jersey in 1763, one year after Dr. Manning. In 1772 he became pastor of the church 
in Greenfield, resigning in 1781 to take charge of a church near Philadelphia. He was one of the 
trustees of New Jersey College from 1785 to 1808. He received the degree of Doctor in Divinity from 
Yale College in 1794; was moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1797. 
His wife was a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Rogers, of New York. Dr. Alexander speaks of him as 
having a very sweet temper, and distinguished for his hospitality. 
42 



330 BROWN UNIVEESITY Chap. IX. 

Stratford, five miles. The inhaljitants here had moved out their effects, expecting a 
visit from the enemy. An agreeable town, situated on a river navigable twelve miles 
above the town. Crossing the ferry, reached Milford, five miles, and dined at the Rev. 
Mr. Sherman's. This town large and rich, but their buildings old and in bad order in 
general. Their husbandry through here good, and their crops excellent; plenty of 
apples. Visited the other minister of the town ; was kindly treated, and invited to 
dine. Here met Mr. Elliot again, with the ague on him, on his way to Boston. "Went 
in company with the ministers to the Freeman's meeting, to prox for deputies to nomi- 
nate their council, etc., for election next spring. Was importuned to open the meeting 
by prayer, which is their usage. Attended in order to observe their manner of proceed- 
ing. The clergy in this State vote for their officers, and often speak to direct in the 
choice of men. They have great influence on the people. When the meeting is opened 
by the constables, the people are requested to bring in their votes for their first deputy ; 
which done, if one has not more than all the rest, it is declared that he is not chosen; 
and after declaring the numbers for the respective candidates, they are requested to 
bring in again, and so continue to do until he is elected. Twenty names at most are put 
in by each voter for general officers, out of which the twelve highest are chosen by the 
assembly for the spring choice. After gratifying my curiosity here, returned to Mr. 
Sherman's, dined, and set out for New Haven, ten miles, where we arrived in the even- 
ing. The road bad most of the way. Went to Mr. Sabin's, who was ill, and his wife 
from home. Was put to difficulty to find lodging and keeping for our horse, as the town 
had been sacked by the enemy, and the people had their effects out of town. Tarried at 
Mr. Lyman's. Indifferent quarters, but a high price. The town shows but few marks 
of outrage to travellers passing through, as the British did not burn here. Wednesday, 
Sept. 22d. Set out at seven o'clock, having taken breakfast. Took the road to Durham, 
crossed the bridge, and the long causeway one half mile over the marsh. The first six 
or seven miles very sandy, then a good soil, and well improved to and through Paug, a 
pleasant village, nine miles. Mr. Williams, minister, invited me to his house, but we 
could only stop to oat. From hence to Durham, excellent land and husbandry, and the 
biiildings uncommonly elegant. Durham a considerable town, situated on a hill ; the 
buildings good; distance nine miles. Dined at Landlord Camp's. The people agree- 
able. After setting out was stopped by General Wadsworth, and invited to call, but 
time would not admit. Reached Middletown, seven miles, at five o'clock. Put up at 
Capt. Warner's. Was visited by Major Otis. Most kindly entertained; tarried Thurs- 
day, visited Mr. Otis, Mr. Hunting, and Capt. William Warner's lady. Tarried all night, 
and set out Friday, 24th, for Weathersfield. Crossed the Great Meadows, but the bridge 
having fallen down, were obliged to ferry over, with difficulty. The upper houses form 
a pretty village. It began to rain moderately, which lasted to Weathersfield. The 
town here is beautiful, and the inhabitants appear to live well, as the soil is exuberant. 



1779. AND MANNING. 331 

Vast quantities of onions are raised here for importation. Dined at the tavern, next 
south of the meeting-house, and then examined their fine structure ; dimensions eighty- 
four by fifty feet, neatly finished with an elegant pulpit, and the most elegant steeple I 
have seen on the journey. Set out in the rain to Hartford, four miles. Called at Capt. 
Bull's, and found them well, and at Mr. Strong's and Dr. Smith's, but found them gone 
a journey. Passed the ferry, and reached the Widow Bidwel's, in East Hartford, where 
we lodged. Were kindly entertained. Set out Saturday, 25th, at seven o'clock. The 
road sandy from the river ten miles. Gated there; found the road wet seven miles, to 
Kimball's, where we again oated. Dined at Mansfield, at Mr. Ephraim Rolins's, a Chris- 
tian friend, seven miles. The road bad, and from hence, six miles, to Mr. Snow's 
tavern in Westford, where we fed. Were hailed by Mr. Welch on our way, and invited 
to tarry and spend the Sabbath ; but we meant to reach Capt. Bowles's, which is six miles 
from Snow's, where we arrived in the evening, much fatigued. Mrs. Bowles brought 
forth a son this night. 

Lord's Day, Sept. 26th. In company with Capt. Bowles, went to Woodstock to Elder 
Ledoyt's meeting. Preached in the afternoon. The audience solemn and affected. The 
day being very rainy, tarried all night, and thereby disappointed a number who had 
assembled for meeting at Capt. Bowles's. Heard from Mr. Ledoyt a pleasing account of 
their journey into the northern parts last spring, and of the remarkable spread of the 
Gospel and of the work of God in various parts. Monday, Sept. 27th. Set out in company 
with the Elder. Found Mrs. Bowles better. At ten o'clock proceeded to Jeremiah 
Brown's, three miles, dined, and reached Mr. Thurber's before night, five miles. Were 
visited by several friends. Tarried the night, and on Tuesday to dine; then reached 
Capt. Corliss's, six miles. The Indian corn but indifferent through these parts, but apples 
plenty. Throughout our whole journey the earth remarkably well clothed with grass. 
Visited Jno. Jones's familj'- in the evening. Wednesday, Sept. 29th. In the morning set 
out for Mr. John Brown's in Gloucester, twelve miles, where Ave dined. Reached Prov- 
idence at six o'clock, the road better than usual ; being just five months to an hour 
absent from home, and having experienced the abundant goodness of God in the jour- 
ney, in that we had never been molested by ill-disposed persons, nor maimed by the 
extremely bad roads and dangerous mountains over which we passed. May the Lord 
fill our hearts with true thankfulness for his abundant mercies through our whole life, 
and enable us to devote to his service lives which have been peculiarly his care! 



CHAPTER X. 

1780-1783. 

Meeting of the Corporation in 1780 — College instruction revived — Manning's perse- 
verance — Second interruption — Letter of introduction for Dr. Drowne — Meeting 
of the Corporation in 1782 — Resolution to apply to Congress for damages done to 
the College edifice during the war — Petition also to the General Assembly — First 
meeting of the Warren Association in Providence — Illustration of the efforts made 
by our fathers to educate and improve the " rising generation " — Manning a dele- 
gate to the Philadelphia Association — Letter from Richard Lemmon illustrating 
Manning's pecuniary straits — Letter to David Howell — Five per cent, impost — 
Letter to Benjamin Wallin — Brief view of the Religious Condition of the Country — 
Public exercises of Commencement resumed — Manning's purpose to proceed to 
England to solicit funds for the College — His memorial to the Corporation on this 
subject — Second letter to David Howell, giving an account of Commencement and 
of the proceedings of the Corporation — Diary of Hezekiah Smith — Petition to the 
King of France for his patronage of the College, together with accompanying letter 
— Sketch of Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse — Letter from Thomas Jefferson in regard to 
the aforesaid petition to the King — Extracts from a Digest of the College Laws by 
President Manning — Manning's ideas of college government and discipline — Letter 
to Henry Kane, of London — Letter to John Ryland — Influence cf the College in 
favor of civil and religions liberty — Letter to Manning from Dr. Stennett — 
Anecdote of Thomas Mullet, Esq., respecting George Washington — Reply to Dr. 
Stennett, giving a history of the times during the war ; John Murray ; Jemima 
Wilkinson; The " Elect Lady " ; increase of religious toleration in New England; 
calamities of the war ; condition of the College ; its influence in jjromoting Baptist 
sentiments; character of its library; jilan for an Education Society, etc. — Origin of 
the Rhode Island Baptist Education Society — Letter to Dr. Thomas Llewelyn, 
urging him to endow the College, and thus give it his name, according to a provision 
of the Charter — Extract from an address of the Warren Association ijertaining to 
education, and especially to the College — Definite treaty of peace — Thanksgiving 
service. 

In the Providence G-azette for the year 1780, we find the following 
notice : — 

The members of the Corporation of Rhode Island College are earnestly requested 
to meet on Friday, the 5th of May next, at nine o'clock a. m., at the College Hall, to 
transact business of the highest importance to the Institution, which will then come 



1780-1783. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 333 

liefore them. It is not doubted but that every gentlemen who has the welfare of the 

Seminary at heart will attend if possible. 

Stephen Hopkins, Chancellor. 

James Manning, President. 

Jabez Bowen, 

Thomas Eyres. 

PROvroENCE, April 28, 1780. 

At the meeting of the Corporation, held agreeably to the foregoing 
advertisement, there were present, of the Fellows, the President, Hon. 
Jabez Bowen, Dr. Thomas Eyres, and David Howell ; of the Trustees, 
Chancellor Hopkins, Henry Ward, Nicholas Brown, Joseph Russell, 
Daniel Cahoun, William Russell, Hon. Nicholas Cooke, Joseph Brown, 
John Jenckes, and John Brown. 

The object of the meeting appears to have been the revival of Col- 
lege instruction, with a view to the commencement of the exercises, 
which, since December, 1776, had been suspended. President Manning 
presented a proposal, stating on what terms he would instruct such 
youth as might apply to him for this purpose. The proposal received 
the approval of the Corporation, and he was accordingly, in the lan- 
guage of the record, "ordered to begin." In consideration of the 
times, and the great scarcity of money, his salary, which had formerly 
been £100, was fixed at X60, or $200. Few persons, like Manning, 
would have had the courage and perseverance to revive and carry on 
the instruction of the College, amid the uncertainties of the war, the 
general poverty and distress that filled the land, and the despondency 
and gloom into which the nation, at this period was plunged. In this 
instance we have an illustration of his peculiar fitness to lead in an 
enterprise, which, eighteen years before, his friends at Philadelphia 
had intrusted to his hands. 

The damage done to the College Building by the American troops, 
necessitated a heavy outlay for repairs, for which the Corporation sought 
remuneration from the Continental Congress. The following appears 
as a part of the records of this special meeting : — 

Resolved, That application be made to the General Assembly to forward a memorial 
from this Corporation to the Continental Congress ; and that notification of this their 



334 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

intention be given to the Assembly ; and that the Honorable the Chancellor, the Rev- 
erend the President, the Honorable Jabez Bowen, and General James Mitchel Varnum 
be a committee to draw said memorial. 

At a subsequent meeting held in September, 1782, it was 

Resolved, That Joseph Brown, Henry Ward, William Russell, and Ebenezer Thomp- 
son, Esquires, be a committee to draft a petition to the Continental Congress, stating 
the account for rents due, and damage done the College edifice during its occupancy by 
the American forces, and the troops of his most Christian Majesty ; that they report the 
same to the Chancellor and the President ; and that on their approbation of it, they sign 
the said petition in behalf of this Corporation, and forward it, together with the former 
petition, which was prepared some time past by the Hon. Jonathan Arnold, Esq. ; and 
the delegates in Congress for the State of Rhode Island, are requested to use their 
influence to get the same granted. 

Anticipating our narrative, we may here state, that after repeated 
and fruitless applications to Congress for remuneration on account of 
damages and loss of rent, an act was finally passed by the United States 
government, April 16, 1800, entitled, 

AN ACT FOR THE RELIEF OF THE CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND 

COLLEGE. 

Be it enacted, etc. - That the accounting officers of the treasury be, and they are hereby 
authorized and directed to liquidate and settle the claims of the Corporation of Rhode 
Island College, for compensation for the use and occupation of the edifice of said College, 
and for injuries done to the same, from the tenth day of December, one thousand seven 
hundred and seventy-six, to the twentieth day of April, one thousand seven hundred 
and eighty, by the troops of the United States ; and that the sum which may be 
found due to the said Corporation for damages done to and occupation of the said 
edifice as aforesaid, be paid them out of any money in the treasury not otherwise 
appropriated. 

How much compensation the Corporation thus received we are not 
informed. Dr. Benedict in his history states it to have been two thou- 
sand dollars. The act, it will be observed, makes no mention of compen- 
sation for the use and occupation of the edifice by the French troops, 
from June 25, 1780, until May 27, 1782. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 385 

" President Manning," says Backus, " now engaged again in the 
work of education. But further interruptions were in store for him. 
On the 25th of June, 1780, while he was preaching at the church, it 
being Sunday, the College edifice was a second time seized, by the order 
of the council of war, for a hospital for the French troops, who held it 
until May 27th, 1782." The records read as follows : 

As the College edifice was taken for the use of barracks and an hospital for the 
American army, and continued to be so occupied by them, and the troops of France, 
from Dec. 17th, 1776, until June, 1782, the course of education in the College, and the 
regular meetings of the Corporation were in a great measure interrupted during that 
period. This will account for the imperfect minutes of transactions relative to the Col- 
lege during that space of time. 

The following letter may be introduced here : — 

To Mr. Jeremiah Manning, at Bonham Toion, near Brunswick, and my other friends and 
acquaintances in Jersey and Pennsylvania : — 
Gentlemen : — The bearer of this is Doct. Solomon Drowne, of the town of Providence, 
of a very reputable family here, educated in Rhode Island College, and regularly bred 
to the practice of Physic in this town, after which he went through the lectures, etc., at 
Philadelphia. I esteem him a youth of good abilities, and master of his business. An 
exceeding great degree of modesty and diffidence would probably be a disadvantage to 
him among strangers, were not his character known. He, at my Instance, has had 
thought of attempting a settlement in some part of the Jerseys, should the prospect be 
flattering. From a long acquaintance with him I esteem him an honest, sensible, 
worthy man, and as such can recommend him to my friends. 

James Manning. 

The next meeting of the Corporation was held on the 14th of Sep- 
tember, 1782, and was fully attended. Of the Fellows there were 
present, besides the President, Hon. Joshua Babcock, of Westerly; 
Hon. Jabez Bowen, of Providence ; Rev. Samuel Stillman, of Boston ; 
Rev. Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill ; and Doct. Thomas Eyres, of New- 
port. Of the Trustees, there were present, among others, Chancellor 
Hopkins ; the three Browns — Nicholas, Joseph, and John ; Hon. 
Nicholas Cooke, the " War Governor ; ' ' John Jenckes, a son of Judge 
Jenckes, whom Manning had seven years before baptized ; and Rev. 



336 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

Isaac Backus. Rev. William Rogers, the " first student of tlie Col- 
lege," was also present, and in the absence of the Secretary (Hon. 
David Howell), was appointed to act as Secretary j9rc» tern. It is inter- 
esting as a record of the past, to note some of the proceedings of the 
Corporation at this annual meeting. The following young gentlemen, 
who, amid all the embarrassments of the College, had prosecuted and 
completed their course of studies under President Manning, were, after 
due examination, "approved and admitted" as "candidates for the 
degree of Bachelor of Arts," viz. : Obadiah Brown, Joseph Jenckes, 
Alexander Jones, and William McClellan. John Morley Green, Sam- 
uel Snow, and Doct. Levi Wheaton, students in the Junior class at the 
time of the breaking up of the College by the war, were also admitted 
to the same degree. Of this number. Green and Snow had served with 
credit in the army. Wheaton, who died in 1851, was made a trustee 
during the presidency of Dr. Maxcy. In 1815 he was appointed Pro- 
fessor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine. He was distinguished, 
says one who knew him well, for his learning and skill as a physician, 
and for his taste and varied acquirements in literature. A committee 
appointed to revise the Charter, made the following report, which was 
adopted : — 

To THE Corporation of the College, or University, in the State of Rhode 

Island and Providence Plantations: 

The United States of America in Congress assembled, and the Legislature of the 
aforesaid State, having by the most solemn acts, renounced allegiance to the King 
of Great Britain, your Committee beg leave to report the following form of engage- 
ment, to be administered to the officers of the Corporation in the room of the 

oath of allegiance prescribed by the Charter, to wit: — You being elected a 

of the College, or University, in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 
do solemnly engage that you will faithfully execute the said office, agreeably to the 
Charter of the said College, or University, to the best of your judgment or ability. 

We also report, as our opinion, that the Corporation report the necessity of this 
alteration to the General Assembly, and request their approbation of the measure ; 
and their establishment in future, of the present form, or such other as they shall think 
fit to substitute ; — and also to request the amendment of that clause in the Charter, 
which prohibits the Corporation from making any law, or order, contrary to the acts 
of the British Parliament. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 337 

A committee was appointed to break the old seal of the College, 
which had the busts of the King and Queen of Great Britain, to agree 
upon a new seal, with suitable devices, to be made of silver, and to 
report its proceedings to the Corporation. President Manning's 
account for salary from May 5, 1780, at £60 per annum, was allowed. 
It was also voted that the College Library, which had been in the 
keeping of the Rev. William Williams, at Wrentham, during the war, 
should be at once brought into town, that it might be used by the stu- 
dents as formerly. 

"At this meeting of the Corporation," says the chronicler, "the 
deplorable situation of the Seminary was particularly taken into con- 
sideration ; whereupon it was resolved that the edifice, which had 
been long occupied as a barrack and a hospital by the American and 
French troops, should be directly repaired ; and ample provision was 
made for the immediate instruction of youtli in all the branches of 
polite and useful literature." 

The records read as follows : — 

Resolved, That a subscription be opened for raising not exceetling £300 for the sole 
purpose of repairing the College edifice; and that the money so subscribed, be repaid 
with interest out of the first money raised by the Corporation ; and Joseph Brown, 
Esquire, is hereby appointed and authorized to receive the said money, lay out the 
same for the piirpose intended, as to him shall seem best, and render an account of his 
proceedings to this Corporation. 

The following petition to the General Assembly is copied from a 
rough draft on file, in the handwriting of President Manning. No date 
is found on the document, but the facts stated indicate that it was pre- 
pared a few weeks before this annual meeting of the Corporation. It 
will repay perusal. The friends of the College might well object to the 
edifice being put to such uses as are here set forth in graphic detail : — 

The Petition of the members of the Corporation of Rhode Island College, 
whose names are hereunto annexed, humbly showeth : 

That the College edifice was first taken in December, 1776, for the use of barracks 
and an hospital for the American troops, and retained for that use until the fall before 
43 



338 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Ghap. X. 

the arrival of his most Christian Majesty's fleets and armies in this State ; — that, by 
our direction, the President resumed the course of education in said College, and took 
possession of the edifice on the 10th of May, 1780 ; and continued so to occupy it until 
the authority of this State, in a short time after, granted it to the French army as an 
hospital, who continued to hold and use it for said purpose until the last week, when 
the Commissary of War of the French army delivered it up, with the keys, to his 
Honor the Deputy Governor; they having previously permitted the officers of the 
French ships in this State to place their sick in it, who still continue there ; — that the 
building was in good repair, and occupied by upwards of thirty students when first 
taken for the public service; — that great injury hath been done to every part of it 
since taken out of the hands of the Corporation ; especially by two buildings adjoining 
it, one an house of offal at the north end, with a vault fifteen feet deep under it, having 
broken down the wall of the College to facilitate the passage of the invalids from the 
edifice into it, from which addition the intolerable stench renders all the northern 
part uninhabitable ; and the other an horse stable, built from the east projection to 
the north end, by which the house is greatly weakened; many of the windows are 
also taken entirely out of the house, and others so broken, as well as the slate on the 
roof, that the storms naturally beat into it. As your Honors must be sensible, the 
interests of literature in this State must generally suffer, as well as the building 
erected for its promotion ; and the Corporation conceiving that there cannot be the 
shadow of a reason for detaining any longer the College edifice from them, who now 
want to apply it immediately to the uses for which it was erected, do request the 
Legislature to deliver them the house, and order all their buildings taken down and 
removed from the College lots, such repairs as are absolutely necessary to be made at 
the public expense ; and to pass an order that it shall not again be appropriated as an 
hospital or for barracks. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. 

The week following the meeting of the Corporation, Tuesday, 
Sept. 10, 1782, the Warren Association convened for the first time in 
Providence. Fifteen years had now elapsed since its organization at 
Warren, and notwithstanding the efforts of Manning and others, the 
parent church of the denomination had, during this period, withheld 
its co-operation as a body, and refused to join the new organization. 
The opposition of many of its members to singing in public worship, 
and their adherence to the doctrine of Laying on of Hands, were the 
principal reasons, doubtless, why it did not, at an earlier day, co-operate 
with the neighboring churches, in united efforts for the public good. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 339 

Now it had come into harmonious relations with the Calvinistic Baptist 
churches generally, and had invited the Association to meet within the 
walls of its spacious and elegant house of worshi]3. 

Among the familiar names recorded as present, in the minutes of 
this memorable meeting, we notice besides Manning, Isaac Backus and 
Ebenezer Hinds of Middleborough, Noah Alden of Bellingham, Bial Le 
Doyt of Woodstock, Job Seamans of Attleborough, William Williams 
of Wrentham, Samuel Stillman of Boston, and Hezekiah Smxith of 
Haverhill. Mr. Smith presided as moderator, and Rev. Thomas Gair 
of Medfield acted as clerk. The opening sermon was preached by 
Stillman. At the close of the first day's session, the Association 
adjourned to five o'clock Wednesday morning, in order to spend some 
time in prayer, " previous to attending on business, on account of the 
affecting drought." This shows the earnestness and zeal with which 
the delegates engaged in their work, rising up early, and spending an 
hour before breakfast in special prayer and supplication. 

The following extract from the printed minutes shows that the 
College was uppermost in the thoughts of the brethren, and that in 
all their deliberations for "the good of the churches" they had in 
mind an institution founded for the express purpose of securing for the 
denomination at large an educated ministry : — 

The Association, from a representation made to them, by the Corporation of the 
College in Providence, of the low state of the funds of said College, and the urgent 
necessity of increasing them in order to support suitable instructors therein, and from 
an idea of the great importance of good education, have taken into consideration, as the 
most probable method to accomplish this valuable end, the recommendation of a sub- 
scription throughout all the Baptist societies on this continent, as well as to all the 
friends of literature of every denomination. 

Our fathers were wise master-builders in their day, laying the 
foundations for spiritual growth and development broad and deep, as 
another extract from the minutes shows : — 

As the instruction and morals of the rising generation are objects of very great 
importance. Voted, That a spelling-book, containing a good English grammar and the 



340 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

Baptist catechism, be published; and Elder Foster is desired to prepare said book for 
the press, in conjunction with President Manning, Elders Backus, Stillman, and Skill- 
man, to be presented at our next annual meeting for examination ; and in the interim, 
for the encouragement of this undertaking, it is recommended to the churches to raise 
by subscrijition what moneys they can, and send the same to the Association next 
year. 

The movers in this matter were familiar, of course, with the well- 
known New England Primer. Their intentions are very evident, but 
there seems to have been a difficulty in carrying them into effect. The 
next year a new committee was appointed, of which Mr. Solomon 
Howe was a member. Mr. Howe reported in 1784, " that he had pre- 
pared a spelling-book and catechism, which the Association voted to 
recommend, after it had been examined by competent and skilful 
hands." Whether the work was ever published, and, if so, where a 
copy can now be found, are matters of interest to the antiquaiy, as well 
as the bibliographer. 

The annual meeting of the Philadelphia Association was held on the 
22d of October following. President Manning attended this meeting 
as a delegate from the Warren Association. The following extract from 
a letter from Richard Lemmon, dated Baltimore, Nov. 11, 1782, and 
directed to the Hon. Robert Carter, has reference to this meeting, and 
will be read with interest. It shows the pecuniary straits to which 
Manning was reduced in consequence of the times : — 

Rev. Mr. Manning, Baptist minister, and President of the College of Rhode Island, 
otherwise Providence, in New England, waited on the Association, and informed them 
of the state of the Seminary, fie has been for ten years and upwards father to that 
College, and at so low a salary, that were it not for the economy of his wife he could not 
live. It was getting into repute before the war, and likely to make a figure, as a good 
many youth were brought up there who have cut a figure, both in the ministry and 
otherwise. The funds are very low at present, so that they are not able to keep the 
necessary tutors. The President is obliged to teach three classes himself, and at so low 
a salary as eighty pounds per annum. The Baptist churches are solicited for donations 
to enable him to commence the College. As we have only one Baptist institution on the 
continent, we should wish to encourage it. I called on the Hon. John Evans and 
informed him of the state of affairs as above. He will do all he can in the church he 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 341 

belongs to, and I will here. I hope you will give your friendly assistance on your part. 
A small contribution from each congregation would do. I enclose you the Minutes of 
the Warren Association, held in Rhode Island. 

To his early associate in the instruction of the College, Manning 
thus writes : — 

Providence, Nov. 19, 1782. 

To THE HONOKABLE DaVED HOWELL, 

Delegate in Congress : • 

Sir: — This will come to hand too late to announce to you the good news concerning 
the fate of five per cent.' This was forwarded before I reached here ; but my letter may 
serve to congratulate you on the important event. You will not think strange that I 
have been at home twelve days and have never attempted to write until now, when I 
inform you that eight days before I reached here I was seized with a severe fever, with 
which I travelled, though in great distress, near two hundred miles, and of which I have 
been ever since confined. Though it has in a measure left me, yet I am still very weak. 

On my arrival, I sent and delivered your letters and those of Dr. Arnold, desiring 
Mrs. Howell, by Jeremiah, to come and see me, as I could not go to her, which she 
would have done, but the French army are here, encamped on the lands of Jeremiah 
Dexter, and those of his brother's heirs. The town is full of officers, and she is crowded 
with them as well as others. The family, however, are all well. I found my family 
well, and am told that the town is healthy in general. I am exceeding sorry that the 
committee appointed to prepare and forward the papers relative to the College, have 



^The " Five per cent. Impost," as it was called, was defeated in the General Assembly by a vote 
taken Nov. 1, 1782. Fifty-three of the sixty-eight members voted against it. Through lack of 
funds to carry on the government, the utter dissolution of the Confederation had seemed iunni- 
nent. On the 3d of February, 1781, Congress had recommended to the States to grant it the power to 
lay an impost of five per cent., and by the articles of confederation each State must agree to its 
adoption. All but Georgia and Rhode Island granted the power ; the former never acted on the 
recommendation, but the latter, through the influence perhaps of Judge Howell, utterly refused to 
sanction it. Appeals were dispatched from Congress, and Anally a committee was raised to come 
in person to Rhode Island, but at this juncture Virginia repealed her assent. The impost question 
continued a bone of contention until the adoption of the Constitution ; and the feeling against 
Howell and Rhode Island was bitter. Hence Manning's allusion to the subject in the beginning of 
this letter. The objection to the impost duty on the part of Rhode Island appears to have been in 
the main, that it would interfere with her ideas of State rights. In one of his arguments in Con- 
gress Judge Howell remarked: " Our State has been invaded and plundered, our towns have been 
partially burnt and partly torn down, and our navigation has been reduced to a very low ebb ; so 
that out of the ancient and once wealthy town of Newport, which in 17T4sentto sea nearly one 
hundred and fifty sail, three only were at sea in March, 1782. Wherefore if any substantial 
revenue could be derived from a duty on trade, this benefit ought in all right and justice, to belong 
solely and exclusively to the State." See Staples's " Rhode Island in the Continental Congress." 



342 BROWN UNIVERSITT Chap. X. 

not yet done this. Joseph Brown tells me he has done everything in his power, but 
Mr. Ward has still disappointed them, by one means or other. When it will be accom- 
plished, I know not. The edifice has been cleaned, and is now undergoing repairs. It 
is tenable for students. A steward has moved in, Mr. Foster. A tutor is also engaged, 
one Mr. Robbins, of Wethersfield, who is daily expected. The number of students is 
very small as yet. I still retain the idea of travelling and soliciting donations for the 
College ; and I believe the Corporation will approve it. But whom shall we get to 
supply my place in the interim, I know not yet. I am unable to attend even to my 
own business. The active executor of my father-in-law's estate. Dr. Dayton, could not 
collect any money for Dicky,* son of Richard, who came with me, before I came away, 
but expected to get some before you return. I have desired him to have it in readiness 
by the middle of December, and left at my mamma's, and informed him that I expect 
you to bring it. I wish you to come that way and take it if there ; if not, please to call 
on the Doctor at town for it and bring it, and I will cheerfully make good any expense 
it may cause you. 

Dr. Randal is now here, and informs me that he has written Dr. Arnold by this 
conveyance fully upon all matters relative to the family, etc. Mrs. Manning joins in 
cordial respects to you and the Doctor, with, sir, 

Your very humble servant, 

James Manning. 

P. S. — I expect Sister Woodruffe will be in your city before this reaches yoxi. I 
should esteem it a particular favor if you and the Doctor would call to see her as you 
have opportunity. 

The following letter, addressed to his friend the Rev. Benjamin 
Wallin, of London, of whose death he had not been informed, presents 
at this time a striking view of the religious condition of New England 
during the war : — 

New Jersey, May 23, 1783. 
Dear Sir: 

I feel happy that an intercourse is again opened between the two countries, after an 
eight years' interruption by a most calamitous war, and that I can again address a 
letter to my much esteemed friend and father in the ministry, with hopes of its reach- 
ing him before his dismission from the field of labor. Three years ago the past winter, 
I received a letter from you, accompanied with a small box of books, a very agreeable 



1 Richard Montgomery Stites. He was graduated in the class of 1792. His father, Richard, was 
a member of the first graduating class, and delivered the Latin Salutatory. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 343 

present, for which you have my most cordial thanks. It came safe, except the " Prod- 
igal " for Mr. Stillman, and your poetical composition directed to me, which were lost 
by the way. The rest were delivered as directed. Your view of the parable of the 
prodigal son is to me the most satisfactory that I have ever met with. It has been 
perused by many here with great pleasure. 

I have never written to England since the ojiportunity in 1776 by Mackaness and 
Shaksi^eare. By yours to me, as mentioned above, I find it was received, and am 
happy that the short sketch given of the revival at Providence, and of the country 
round, furnished an agreeable entertainment for my English brethren and friends. 
But days of tribulation have succeeded those happy ones. The calamities of the war 
fell heavy upon us. First a disi^ersion of our church and congregation upon the 
coming of the King's army, which is in sight of my house. This was immediately 
followed by the evils attendant on a garrison, as we became a frontier. The dreadful 
effects of this upon the morals of the inhabitants who remained, I need not mention. 
But what of all things was the most distressing to me, was the lukewarmness of almost 
all professors of religion, and the total apostasy of many. The contagion became gen- 
eral. The places of worship were almost abandoned. Alarm upon alarm destroyed all 
tranquillity, and every day and night threatened us with that desolating devastation 
which spread with such rapidity along our coasts. The College was quite broken up, 
and the edifice was occupied by a rude and wasting soldiery, first for barracks, then fpr 
a hospital, until they threatened its almost total demolition. 

But language would fail to paint in proper colors the horrors of these days. About 
this time one John Murray, alias Murphy, sujjposed to be a fugitive from justice in 
Great Britain, with great address undertook to propagate the doctrine of universal 
salvatiop, as held by a Mr. Belly, in his book on Union, of which Murray was a mere 
retailer. In this work he was too successful in the towns and counties through New 
England. The avidity with which this error was imbibed greatly contributed to the 
decline of the morals of the people, and to unsettle the minds of professors. Soon after 
this, two women, who pretended to a participation of Deity, set up new kinds of super- 
stition. One of them pretended to be Jesus Christ in the form of a woman. In her 
preaching and praying she considered herself as the Mediator. The other pretended to 
pardon sins, and to be at the head of a new dispensation, of which the form of worship 
is dancing, turning round on one foot, pretending to speak in unknown tongues, etc., 
etc. She interdicted all intercourse between the sexes, so that separations between 
man and wife became common, among those who would attain to a state of absolute 
perfection. The fruits of this ex-parte religion you will easily conjecture. She, with 
her attendants, came to America from Liverpool, or its vicinity, about the commence- 
ment of the war. But what will astonish you most of all is that great multitudes are 
ensnared by these delusions, and follow their pernicious ways. 



344 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

Yet notwithstanding these discouraging circumstances, a glorious reformation has 
progressed, during the past three or four years, in many parts of New England, and 
about two thousand persons have in consequence received believer's baptism, and seve- 
ral Baptist churches have been constituted. The good effects of this work are yet 
visible. Several places have been visited during the past year, and in these the good 
work of grace still continues. Dear Mr. Thurston, of Newport, and his people, have 
had a blessed shower, between thirty and forty of their number having lately been bap- 
tized. The attendance on public worship with us at Providence has of late inspired me 
with hopes of better times. 

The College is again revived ; but our exhausted state will enable iis to make only a 
partial repair of the edifice, and that by borrowing money. We have been so happy as 
to preserve our little fund amidst the wreck of public credit, but the present exhausted 
state of the treasiirj^ prevents our commanding the interest when due. The return of 
peace will, we hope, remedy this inconvenience ere it be of long continuance. The pros- 
pect of students grows more encouraging, though at present the number is small. 

I write this from New Jersey, whither I have come via New York, for the first time 
in several years. Last Lord's Day I preached here, and expect to preach for two Sab- 
baths to come. The Baptist meeting-house is still occupied for a hospital, and greatly 
out of repair. The people seem much disposed to hear the word, although attendance 
at church has long been out of vogue among them. Rev. Messrs. Miller and Stelle, of 
the Scotch Plains and Piscataway churches, two eminent Baptist ministers, died nearly 
two years ago. Their people have not yet found Elishas to take their places. Political 
contentions have proved exceedingly mischievous in many of our churches. A spirit 
of toleration, however, is vastly more prevalent among the Pedobaptists since the war. 
To this our friend Mr. Backus, who is well and still active, has contributed much. I 
fear I shall not have time to write by this opportunity to any of my English brethren 
except yourself. Please to present my best respects to all inquiring friends ; for I 
presume that I have some who will inquire for me. Let me be favored with a letter by 
the first opportunity. With sentiments of the highest respect, 

I am, etc., 

James Manning. 

In 1783 the public exercises of Commencement were resumed, on 
which occasion the Rev. Dr. Stilhnan preached an animating sermon 
from Luke xv. 32 : " It was meet that we should make merry and be 
glad ; for this th}^ brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and 
is found." No record has been preserved of the order of exercises on 
this occasion. The Providence G-azette says : 




Samuel Stillman. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 345 

As soon as the Corporation had taken their seats, the audience were entertained with 
an anthem ; after which the President made a prayer well adapted to the occasion. The 
candidates then proceeded to perform their respective parts, which consisted of several 
orations on different subjects, and a forensic disputation. An oration was likewise 
delivered by Dr. James Mann, of Harvard College. 

The degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on Jacob Campbell, 
George Tillinghast, John Tillinghast, Othniel Tyler, and William 
Wilkinson. An account of this Commencement, and of the proceed- 
ings of the subsequent meeting of the Corporation, may best be learned 
from a letter to Mr. Howell. It will be observed that INIanning again 
alludes to his purpose to proceed to England to solicit funds for the 
College. In reference to this matter we make the following extract from 
the records of a meeting of the Corporation, held on the 27th of Janu- 
ary, 1783 : — 

President Manning laid before them a memorial setting forth the smallness of the 
College funds, and the necessity of augmenting them to preserve the Institution from 
dissolution, and offered his services to travel abroad to solicit donations for augmenting 
them as per memorial on file ; which being dialy considered by the members present, it 
was agreed to recommend to the President to proceed to solicit donations, as soon as a 
proper person can be found to superintend the College in his absence ; and that the Secre- 
tary make out for him proper credentials, sealed with the College seal and signed by the 
Secretary. 

The following is the "memorial," to which reference is here 
made : — 

To THE Honorable the Chancellor and the Members of the College in Provi- 
dence, CONVENED BY SPECIAL REQUEST ON WEDNESDAY, THE 25tH OF DECEMBER, 

1782: 

Gentlemen: — The present low state of the funds of the College, and the conse- 
quent embarrassment of this Corporation in conducting and advancing the Institution, 
are matters of too great notoriety to need elucidation. Any plan, therefore, which 
renders an augmentation of them probable, I presume must meet your warmest appro- 
bation. The only one which I can conceive can at present be adopted is, to ajipoint 
some person, whom you shall judge qualified, to solicit benefactions of whom and 
wheresoever he shall think proper, for the sole purpose of endowing the College or 
making suitable provision for tuition therein, — withal assuring the donors that the 
44 



346 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

Corporation have pledged their faith that the interest only of the net proceeds of the 
money so collected shall be appropriated, and that the principal shall be reserved as a 
perpetual fund. 

Looking around amongst the friends of the College, I can find no one who will 
undertake this arduous service unless I do it myself; and though, at my time of life, 
encumbered as I am with the cares of a family, the congregation, and the College, 
together with the mortifications which must unavoidably attend the execution, I find 
it exceedingly difl&cult to enter on the design ; yet my strong attachment to the inter- 
ests of the College has induced me, for the want of a more suitable person, in the face 
of every difficulty to offer my services, on the following conditions : That the Corpo- 
ration shall, while on this service, discharge me from all duty in the College ; that they 
furnish me with a proper authorization, and, out of the moneys I shall collect, pay me 
the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money per annum, besides defraying all my 
necessary expenses ; that they allow me the iise of the College estate^ as when at home, 
and leave it to my judgment in what places and how long to pursue this object. And 
should any difficulty arise concerning taking the moneys out of the governments where 
collected, it shall be left to my judgment how to dispose of them to the best advantage 
of the Corporation. 

Should the above propositions be acceded to, as soon as I can adjust my private 
concerns I engage, by divine permission, to begin and faithfully pursue the business as 
long as there is, in my opinion, a prospect of success. If it should be said that the state 
of war in which we are involved, the desolations of many parts of the country, the 
weight of taxes, scarcity of money, and drought of the last summer, ail militate against 
this proposal, I freely grant the great force of all these arguments ; but in my opinion 
matters are come to a point, and the question is not whether there have not been and 
may probably hereafter be more favorable times to collect money, but whether the Col- 
lege can be continued with any degree of reputation without some speedy exertions. I 
confess I think it cannot, and therefore necessity impels this measure. Besides, the 
Baptist Association, held the last fall in this town and in the city of Philadelphia, lent 
a favorable ear to some proposals for augmenting the College revenue ; but withal con- 
cluded that the only method to succeed would be for me to follow them by a personal 
application. And I conceive the only time to obtain their money is when the people 
are willing to part with it, whatever difficulty they may find in obtaining it. These 
proposals, however, are cheerfully submitted to your better judgment, by, gentlemen, 

Your humble servant, 

James Manning. 



1 The house occupied by President Maiming, and by his successors Maxcy and Messer, and for a 
while by Wayland, was built at the time of the erection of University Hall. It stood near the 
old College pump, in front of Manning Hall. A view of the house is given in the engraving in 
Chapter IV. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 347 

This plan of President Manning, which was never carried into 
effect, owing doubtless to the difficulty in finding a suitable person to 
take his place in the College and in the church, is another of the many 
proofs of his ardent desire to promote the interests of "religion and 
sound learning," and of his willingness to make sacrifices in behalf of 
the Institution over which he presided. But to the letter : — 

Providence, Sept. 13, 1783. 
To THE Honorable David Howell, 

Delegate in Congress: 

Dear Sir: — Last night 'brought me your favor of the 17th ult. ; by some means it 
has had a long passage. Am much obliged for the intelligence you communicate. I 
with you hope our happy Constitution may be preserved entire, and that place-men 
and pensioners may figure small under it, whatever raised hopes may have been enter- 
tained by candidates. I wish to know the event of the examination you mentioned, 
which was so full of expectation on the part of the examined. I am glad to hear that 
you are so happy in your colleague. I shall not be wanting in seconding your wishes 
with respect to your son. He does not make a rapid progress in language, but does 
much better than heretofore. He performed very well the last public speaking. 

Our public Commencement met the highest approbation of a most numerous assem- 
bly, amongst whom were the high Consul of France, the Count dal Verme of Milan, 
and several English and Dutch merchants, who were very liberal in their encomiums 
on the performers and performances. It is generally thought, both by the friends of 
the College and others, to equal if not exceed any we have ever had. And I am happy 
to inform you that it seems to have inspired its friends with new life. Mr. John Brown 
requested the Corporation to ascertain the sum necessary to procure a complete philo- 
sophical apparatus and library, and offered to advance, forthwith, one-half the sum, 
provided the Corporation would advance, or find ways and means to advance, the other 
half. It was found impracticable to ascertain this exactly. He then offered to equal 
any sum they could raise. A subscription was immediately set on foot, and pursued 
by Mr. Smith in the town the succeeding days, which amounted to better than £.340; 
and will, with Mr. John Brown's, equal, if not exceed, £700 lawful money. A catalogue 
of the library and apparatus is ordered to be made out immediately. If you can assist 
us, by procuring from your friends any large catalogues of books, or can yourself fur- 
nish one both of the library and apparatus, we shall be happy to receive your assist- 
ance, as soon as possible. Governor Hopkins, Joseph Brown, Doctors Waterhouse and 
Drowne, Mr. Stillman and myself are appointed to this service ; and we mean to have 
them prepared as soon as possible. 



348 BROWN UNIVEESITT Chap. X. 

Messrs. Stillman and Waterhouse, with the President, are appointed to draft an 
address and petition to the King of France for his patronage of the College, and a 
donation similar to that offered to Yale College, and forward it to you to use your 
influence with the Minister of France to get his sanction of it, and to point out the 
proper way of access to his most Christian Majesty, as soon as may be. And while it is 
preparing I am to request you to feel the pulse of the Minister relative to it, and advise 
us accordingly. This matter is ordered to be kept a secret, and by the Corporation, lest 
we should be interrupted. President Wheelock, on this business for Dartmouth Col- 
lege, writes that he is likely to succeed equal to his expectations. It was also voted 
that Mr. "William Van Horn should solicit benefactions to the southward of Pennsyl- 
vania, the President in the Middle States, Rev. Benjamin Foster through New England, 
and Rev. William Rogers go on the business to Europe. Mr. Foster I have since seen. 
He informs me that he cannot accept his appointment. Mr. Rogers has also intimated 
as much to me, in consequence of the ill state of his wife's health, and I am again in 
the question for this service. The great objection to this is, to have the College pro- 
vided for in the interim. All agree, if you should return at the beginning of winter, 
and will undertake, that the objection will be removed ; and I wish a line from you on 
this subject as soon as possible, as it is thought necessary to proceed to Europe this 
fall. In short, we are determined to make every possible exertion to make the College 
respectable if possible. Dr. Drowne is chosen Fellow in the room of Dr. Babcock; 
Dr. Waterhouse^ has qualified also ; Welcome Arnold is chosen in the room of Gover- 
nor Cook. 



1 Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse was chosen a Fellow of the College in 1782. This gentleman, says 
Professor Goddard, whose brief sketch of him we In the main quote, distinguished in the medical 
history of our country as "the American Jenner," was born in Newport, K. I. His father, orig- 
inally a Presbyterian, embraced the religious opinions of the Society of Friends, after he had 
reached mature life ; and to those opinions he remained sincerely attached till his death, at an 
advanced age. His son, to borrow his own language, "was born and educated in the principles 
of liberal Quakerism." He never, however, adopted the peculiarities of that quiet and useful 
sect, nor was he accustomed to unite with them in their religious worship. Dr. Waterhouse never 
received a college education ; but few of our countrymen have been more frequently honored by 
distinctions from literary and scientific bodies, at home and abroad. That his early academical 
training was not neglected, is evident from his various publications, some of which evince a 
familiarity witli the learned languages. He was a pupil of the celebrated Dr. Fothergill, of Lon- 
don, and he subsequently pursued his medical studies at the famous schools of Edinburgh and 
Leyden. From the Leyden school he received the degree of Doctor in Medicine. In 1783 he was 
api)ointed Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in Harvard University, and he con- 
tinued to perform the duties of that chair for the period of nearly thirty years. This was among 
the earliest medical schools established in America. In 1784 Dr. Waterhouse was elected Professor 
of Natural History in Rhode Island College, and while occupying this chair he delivered, in the 
State House at Providence, the first course of lectures upon that science ever delivered in the 
United States. The benevolent and intrepid agency of Dr. Waterhouse in introducing vaccination 
into this country, is too well known to the public to need more than a passing allusion. He died at 
an advanced age, in the year 1846. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 349 

Last Tuesday I attended the Association at Charlton. The convention was large 
and unanimous. I discover a growing attachment to literature, though by reason 
of the drought last year, etc., they had not yet complied with the request to raise 
money for the College, except Mr. Gair, who produced £13. Several more had begun, 
and the recommendation is still continued, with some additional stimulus. The 
plenteous crop of the present year, I hope, will enable the well disposed to lend us 
some assistance. 

"We have chosen the device for a seal, which Dr. Drowne exhibited, with the altera- 
tion of an enclosed instead of an open temple. Probably we shall employ you to get it 
engraved at Philadelphia, if you will take the trouble, as we expect it will be your 
winter residence. The subscription I mentioned was in books, apparatus, and money. 

Mrs. Anthony is here, who, with Mrs. Manning, was at your house yesterday. They 
inform me your father is there, in a low state of health. Your mamma Corlis also con- 
tinues to decline. Mrs. Manning presents her most respectful compliments to the hon- 
orable delegate, and Mrs. Anthony requests me to do the same to the old gentleman. 
She returned here from Boston last Monday. I had quite forgot to tell you we did not 
take up the consideration of our address to Congress for damages, etc., done the College. 
We wish you to feel the pulse of your acquaintance relative thereto ; and if there 
should be an opening, to give us the earliest advice, that we may improve the oppor- 
tunity to apply. With sentiments of esteem, I am, sir. 

Your very humble servant, 

James Manning. 

In this connection it may be interesting to read an extract from 
Hezekiah Smith's diary : — 

1783. Tues., Sept. 2d. We went to Nicholas Brown's in Providence. — Wed., 3d. 
Attended the Commencement. — Thurs., Uh. I met with the Corporation of Rhode Island 
College. — Fri.,5th. Waited upon a number of gentlemen by desire of the Corporation, to 
get subscriptions for a Philosophical apparatus and a Library for the use of the College. 
The whole of the subscriptions for this purpose amounted to about £600 lawful money. 
— Sab., 1th. Preached in the forenoon in Mr Snow's meeting-house from Jer. 31 : 3; in 
the afternoon in Mr. Manning's meeting-house, from Eph. 2:13; and in the evening in 
Mr. Snow's, from Rom. 10: 11. 

In reference to the Count dal Verme, to whom allusion is here 
made, we find the following anecdote from the Hon. Asher Robbins, 
quoted by Professor Goddard, as an illustration of the dignity and 



350 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

grace with which Dr. Manning was accustomed to preside at the annual 
Commencements. "I recollect," he says, "that at one of our Com- 
mencements, a French gentleman of distinction (I think he bore some 
title of nobility) was present. He sat by Dr. Waterhouse, and was, I 
think, introduced and presented by him. They conversed together in 
Latin, either as, being learned men, they chose to converse in a learned 
language, or as the Frenchman being less perfect in English and the 
Doctor in French, they found it more easy to converse in Latin. 
Struck with the natural dignity and grace, the Frenchman whispered 
to the Doctor, 'Natalis proesidere'' (born to preside). I heard this from 
Dr. Waterhouse himself the next day." 

In looking over the records, we find that at a special meeting of the 
Corporation, held on the 7th of January, 1784, the address to which 
Manning in his letter to Howell refers, "drawn up by the Rev. Samuel 
Stillman and Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, was read and approved." 

It was also at this meeting voted, "That the Chancellor, the Presi- 
dent, Hon. Jabez Bowen, and Dr. Solomon Drowne, be a committee to 
draft a letter to Dr. Benjamin Franklin, to accompany the address to 
his most Christian Majesty." 

The following is the address, which we copy from an original docu- 
ment now on file among the archives of the University. The penman- 
ship of the document is remarkably clear and handsome, and the 
signatures to it are genuine. Some slight verbal alterations rendered 
it necessary to prepare another, and hence this is retained. A first 
draft, also, in the handwriting apparently of Dr. Stillman, is on file. 

Sire: — The Rhode Island College, studious of promoting literature, and of dissem- 
inating that kind of knowledge which tendeth to impress the minds of youth under 
their direction with such sentiments of benevolence as are circumscribed in no less 
bounds than the whole bulk of mankind, look up to your Majesty, not only as a friend 
and promoter of such knowledge, but also, like many of your illustrious ancestors, a 
patron of those arts which polish humanity and exalt our nature. 

With these sentiments we regard the monarch of France, and with all deference beg 
leave to express our wishes of having a professor of the French language and history 
in this our infant seminary, — a thing we ardently desire, but are unable to accom- 
plish. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 351 

Ignorant of the French language, and separated as we were by more than mere dis- 
tance of countries, we too readily imbibed the prejudices of the English, — prejudices 
which we have renounced since we have had a nearer view of the brave army of 
France, who actually inhabited this College edifice ; since which time our youth seek 
with avidity whatever can give them information respecting the character, genius, and 
influence of a people they have such reason to admire, — a nation so eminently distin- 
guished for polished humanity. 

To satisfy this laudable thirst of knowledge, nothing was wanting but to encourage 
and diffuse the French language ; and that not merely as the principal means of ren- 
dering an intercourse with our brethren of France more easy and beneficial, but also 
for spreading far and wide the history of the so celebrated race of kings, statesmen, 
philosophers, poets, and benefactors of mankind which France has produced. 

As no king will be held by us in so lasting and so dear a remembrance, so there is 
no name we are more desirous of repeating as the founder of the French language and 
history in this country than your Majesty's, and that too as much from gratitude to 
your Majesty as profit to ourselves. 

From the scarcity of French books, our youth can at present only draw their infor- 
mation from English writers, and not from the more pure source, the French them- 
selves. Our wish has therefore been to procure a proper collection of the best French 
authors, and to establish a professorship of the French language and history in the 
College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations ; but such have been the obstruc- 
tions during the war, and the course of education so impeded, that the edifice erected 
for the reception of the studious youth was granted by the governors of the College as 
an hospital for the troops. These, together with the calamities of the country, render it 
impossible for us to carry our design into execution respecting French literature. 

Regarding, therefore, your Majesty as a monarch endowed with qualities that add 
lustre to a crown, ever ready to patronize what is good and useful, we presume to 
solicit your Majesty's assistance ; firmly believing that whatever tends to make men 
wiser, better, and happier will meet with your royal assistance and encouragement. 

May the common Father of the universe bless our endeavors, and make your 
Majesty the happy instrument of raising to us the literary genius of France in ages past 
as from the dead. May sacred and unerring wisdom ever be your guide, adorn you 
with every virtue, and crown you with every blessing, that future ages may commemo- 
rate the happiness of your reign with grateful admiration. 

Signed by order and in behalf of the Corporation, 

Stephen Hopkins, Chancellor. 
James Manning, President. 

Providence, State of Rhode Island, Jan. 9, 1784. 



362 BROW^ UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

This address was eventually put into the hands of Thomas Jefferson 
by the Rhode Island Delegates to Congress, the matter having been 
intrusted to them. We may be allowed to anticipate somewhat, and 
give the result of the application, by publishing the following letter, 
which we find in the second volume of Jefferson's Works : — 

Paris, July 22, 1787. 
To THE Delegates of Rhode Island: 

Gentlemen : — I was honored in the month of January last with a letter from the 
honorable the delegates of Rhode Island in Congress, enclosing a letter from the Cor- 
poration of Rhode Island College to his most Christian Majesty, and some other papers. 
I was then in the hurry of preparation for a journey into the south of France, and 
therefore unable at that moment to make the inquiries which the object of the letter 
rendered necessary. As soon as I returned, which was in the last month, I turned my 
attention to that object, which was the establishment of a professorship of the French 
language in the College, and the obtaining a collection of the best French authors, with 
the aid of the King. That neither the College nor myself might be compromised use- 
lessly, I thought it necessary to sound, previously, those who were able to inform me 
what would be the success of the application. I was assured, so as to leave no doubt, 
that it would not be complied with ; that there had never been an instance of the King's 
granting such a demand in a foreign country, and that they would be cautious of set- 
ting the precedent ; that, in this moment, too, they were embarrassed with the difficult 
operations of putting down all establishments of their own which could possibly be 
dispensed with, in order to bring their expenditure down to the level of their receipts. 
Upon such information I was satisfied that it was most prudent not to deliver the let- 
ter, and spare to both parties the disagreeableness of giving and receiving a denial. 
The King did give to two colleges in America copies of the works printing in the public 
press. But were this to be obtained for the College of Rhode Island, it would extend 
only to a volume or two of Buffon's work still to be printed, Manilius's Astronomicon, 
and one or two other works in the press which are of no consequence. I did not think 
this an object for the College worth being pressed. I beg the favor of you, gentlemen, 
to assure the Corporation that no endeavors of mine should have been spared could they 
have effected their wish, and that they have been faithfully used in making the pre- 
liminary inquiries which are necessary, and which ended in an assurance that nothing 
could be done. These papers having been transmitted to me through your delegation, 
will, I hope, be an apology for my availing myself of the same channel for communica- 
ting the result. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 353 

I have the honor to he, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, 
gentlemen, 

Your most ohedient and humble servant, 

Thomas Jefferson. 

The late Rev. Edwin M. Stone, in his elaborate work entitled "Our 
French Allies,"^ has given a minute account of military operations in 
Rhode Island, including sketches of French officers, and incidents of 
social life in Newport and Providence. These officers were men of cul- 
ture, not a few of them representing the orders of nobility in their 
native land. During the years 1780 and 1781, sixty-seven of them 
were assigned lodgings with the leading families of Providence, includ- 
ing Governor Cook, Deputy Governor Bowen, Colonel Nightingale, 
Joseph Russell, and the brothers Nicholas, Joseph, and John Brown, 
all of whom were prominent members of the Corporation of the Col- 
lege. Balls, parties, and other entertainments were frequent, and thus 
the exchange of courtesies served to strengthen mutual respect and 
friendship. The liberality with which they circulated their silver and 
gold at a period when a Spanish milled dollar, as Mr. Stone remarks, 
bore a fabulous value in paper currency, must have rendered them wel- 
come customers with the trading community. We can readily under- 
stand how, under these circumstances, the idea of a Professorship of 
"the French language and history," should have been suggested to the 
overseers of "this our infant Seminary." 

The following, copied from a rough draft of a letter to accompany 
this address to "his most Christian Majesty," deserves a place here, 
not only from its connection with the history of University Hall, as 
the edifice is now named, but also from its statements respecting the 
history and condition of the College at this time : — 

Sir: — In compliance with the request of the Honorable the Corporation of the Col- 
lege at Providence in the State of Rhode Island, transmitted in their vote of the 7tli of 



I " Our French Allies. Rochambeau and his army, Lafayette 'and his devotion, D'Estaing, 
DeTernay, Barras, DeGrasse, and their fleets, in the great War of the American Revolution, 1778- 
1782." By Edwin Martin Stone. Providence Press Co. Royal 8vo., pp. xxxi., 632. 215 illustra- 
tions. 

45 



364 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

September last, we take the liberty to inform your Excellency that the College under 
their direction was founded in 1764, and received the small endowment of which it is 
now possessed solely from the beneficence and contributions of individuals, the gov- 
ernment not being sufficiently impressed with an idea of the importance of literature 
to afford its patronage or lend it any further assistance than that of granting it a 
charter. With these small beginnings, however, at the commencement of the late war 
the Corporation had the pleasure to see that beautiful edifice erected on the hill at 
Providence, and upwards of forty students matriculated, together with a large Latin 
school as a nursery to supply it with scholars. The whole endowment consisted of one 
thousand pounds, lawful money, as a fund, besides the lot of six acres of land.^ At 
that period the young Institution was speedily growing in reputation as well as in 
number of scholars. But on the arrival of the enemy in that State, in the year 1776, it 
was seized by the public for barracks, and an hospital for the American army, and con- 
tinued to be so occupied until a little before the arrival of the armaments of his most 
Christian Majesty, upon which it was again taken out of the hands of the Corporation 
by an order of government, and delivered up to our allies for the same uses to which it 
had been applied by the American army. They held it till their army marched for the 
Chesapeake. To accommodate it to their wishes they made great alterations in the 
building, highly injurious to the designs of its founders. This, with the damages done 
to it by the armies of both nations while so occupied, subjected the Corporation to a 
heavy expense to repair it; and that when the deranged state of our finances prevented 
us from making scarcely any advantage of the interest of our little fund in the State 
treasury. Having at their own expense made the repairs, they applied first to the Leg- 
islature of the State, and repeatedly to Congress for some compensation; but have not 
been able to obtain the least assistance. Thus circumstanced they think it their duty 
to solicit the patronage of his most Christian Majesty in the manner they have done in 
the memorial which accompanies this letter. 

We have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that there are upwards of fifty 
students now belonging to the College, with flattering prospects of an increase. 

The above is a brief account of the origin and present state of the College at Provi- 
dence. We only add, that this Institution embraces in its bosom and holds out equal 
privileges to all denominations of Protestants ; and its Corporation, agreeably to charter, 
is, and must forever be composed of some of all denominations of Christians. 

We have the honor to be. Sir, your very humble servants. 



The College lands originally comprised eight acres, according to the recorded deeds and the 
"College Credit" submitted by Nicholas Brown & Co. to the Corporation in 1771. The highway 
thereto, which is now a part of College Street, was of course included in these eight acres. The 
writer speaks of the " lot " without probably taking into account the " highway." 



1780-1783, AND MANNING. 355 

The most important business at the annual meeting of the Corpora- 
tion in 1783, was the confirming and ratifying a new digest of the Col- 
lege Laws, which had heen carefully made by a committee appointed 
the previous year. These Laws, in Manning's hand writing, are pre- 
served in the archives of the Library. At the end is the following, 
with the original signatures of the Committee : — 

The subscribers having been appointed a committee to form a Digest of Laws for 
this Institution, have agreed to the foregoing, and do report them accordingly, this 
22d day of February, 1783. 

James Manning, 
Jabez Bowen, 
Nicholas Brown, 
David Howell. 

A few extracts from this digest, differing somewhat from the Laws of 
1774, given in full in a previous chapter, may be here introduced. 
They serve to illustrate the character and liberal tendencies of the Col- 
lege, as also the spirit of the times. 

No student shall be admitted into this College until he shall have written out a cor- 
rect copy of the Laws of the College, or have otherwise obtained them, and had them 
signed by the President and one or more of the Tutors, as the evidence of his admi.s- 
sion ; which copy he shall keep by him during his residence in College. 

Both before and after noon, and before nine o'clock in the evening, the Tiitors in 
their turn shall daily visit the rooms of the students to observe whether they be within 
and pursuing their studies ; and shall punish all those who are absent without liberty or 
necessity. 

The President and Tutors, according to their judgments, shall teach and instruct the 
several classes in the learned languages, and in the liberal arts and sciences, together 
with the vernacular tongue. 

The following are the classes appointed for the first year namely : In Latin, Virgil, 
Cicero's Orations, and Horace, all in usum Delphini. In Greek, the New Testament, 
Lucian's Dialogues, and Xenojihon's Cyropaedia. For the second year, in Latin, Cicero 
de Oratore, and Caesar's Commentaries ; in Greek, Homer's Iliad, and Longinus on the 
Sublime, together with Lowth's Vernacular Grammar, Rhetoric, Ward's Oratory, 
Sheridan's Lectures on Elocution, Guthrie's Geography, Kaimes's Elements of Criti- 
cism, Watts and Duncan's Logic. For the third year, Hutchinson's Moral Philosophy, 



356 BKOWN" IJNIYERSITY ' Chap. X. 

Doddridge's Lectures, Fenning's Arithmetic, Hammond's Algebra, Stone's Euclid, 
Martin's Trigonometry, Love's Surveying, "Wilson's Navigation, Martin's Philosophia 
Britannica, and Ferguson's Astronomy, with Martin on the Globes. In the last year, 
Locke on the Understanding, Kennedy's Chronology, and Bolingbroke on History; and 
the Languages, Arts, and Sciences studied in the foregoing years to be accurately 
reviewed. 

It is interesting to note the courses of study and the text-books of a 
century ago. Whether the studies and text-books of to-day are after 
all better fitted for the development of the faculties and the acquisition 
of knowledge, is in the minds of some an open question. It is certain 
that our most distinguished graduates have been educated under what 
may be called the "old system." 

Two of the students, in rotation, shall, every evening, after prayers, pronounce a 
piece upon the stage ; and all the members of the College shall meet every "Wednesday 
afternoon in the hall, at the ringing of the bell at two o'clock, to pronounce before the 
President and Tutors pieces well committed to memory, that they may receive such cor- 
rections in their manner as shall be judged necessary.^ 

On the last "Wednesday in every month, every student in College shall pronounce 
publicly, on the stage, memoriter, such an oration or piece as shall be previously 
approved by the President ; on which occasion the two upper classes shall make use of 
their own compositions. 

The senior class shall attend recitations and other public exercises, until the second 
Wednesday in July, on which they shall appear in the hall to be examined by the Presi- 
dent, Fellows, Tutors, or any other gentlemen of liberal education, touching their 
knowledge and proficiency in the learned languages, the liberal arts and sciences, and 
other qualifications requisite for receiving the degree of Bachelor in the Arts ; and, upon 
approbation, they shall not leave the College before they have completed their necessary 
preparations for the public Commencement, nor then, without the President's liberty. 

On the last "Wednesday in every quarter, there shall be a public examination of the 
three lower classes in the studies they shall have pursued during that quarter; and if it 
shall appear that any one has neglected his business so as not to have made such profi- 
ciency in them as his opportunity and abilities would admit of, the President and Tutors 
may put him upon a conditional standing with his class, which condition shall continue 



I We have commented on this practice in connection with the Laws of 1774. The meeting every 
Wednesday afternoon is in addition to the arrangements for speaking prescribed by the previous 
Laws. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 357 

to the end of the year (only by his better conduct he shall merit an exemption there- 
from, at a future examination) and then, if there appear no hopeful signs of reformation 
they may degrade him to a lower class. 

Every scholar is required to shew all due honor and reverence both in words and 
behavior to all his superiors, viz.: Parents, Magistrates, Ministers, and especially to 
the Trustees, Fellows, President, and Tutors of this College; and shall in no case use 
any reproachful, revelling, disrespectful or contumacious language ; but on the con- 
trary shall show them all proper tokens of reverence and obedience. 

The Senior Class shall always have the choice of rooms ; the Junior next, and the 
Sophomore next ; except where a student of the lower classes shall have been at the 
expense of painting or papering a room ; or shall ofifer to do so ; in that case he shall have 
the preference, and not only be permitted to reside in it during his stay at College, but 
on leaving the same, shall have the liberty of disposing of his property therein to any 
member of the Senior or Junior classes, who shall thereby become possessed of the 
same right. 

It is not permitted any one, in the hours of study, to speak to another, except in 
Latin, either in the College or College yard. 

The Senior Class, when required, shall read a chapter out of the Greek Testament into 
English, before morning prayers ; the President or Tutors calling on whom they think 
proper of the class to perform this duty. 

Every student shall attend public worship every first day of the week, where he, his 
parents, or his guardians shall think proper, provided that any who do not attend with 
any officer of instruction produce vouchers, when demanded, of his steady and orderly 
attendance. 

N. B. — Such as regularly and statedly observe the seventh day as a Sabbath, are 
exempted from this Law, and are only required to abstain from secular employments, 
which would interrupt their fellow-students. 

The times of vacation shall be from September 6 to October 20, from December 24 
to January 24, and from the first Monday in May three weeks. 

The following Laws concerning the Library will be read with inter- 
est by the members of the American Library Association of to-day. 
They show that the little collection of "about five hundred volumes, 
most of which are both very ancient and very useless, as well as very 
ragged and unsightly," as Manning describes them in a subsequent 
letter to Dr. Stennett, was nevertheless highly prized, and guarded 
with jealous care. 



358 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

The oldest Tutor shall be the Librarian, who shall open the Library once a week, at 
an hoi\T appointed, and attend and deliver out such books as shall be called for, by such 
of the students as are permitted the use of them. 

In a letter to the late Prof. C. C. Jewett concerning the early his- 
tory of the Library, the Hon. Asher Robbins writes : — 

At the reorganization of the College, in the autumn of 1782, I was appointed to the 
office of Tutor, and took charge of the Library as Librarian. It was then kept in the 
East chamber on the second floor of the central building (University Hall) ; the vol- 
umes it contained were quite limited in number — these mostly the primary editions 
of the works in folio and quarto. 

All the students, except the members of the Freshman Class, shall be permitted the 
use of the Library. 

Poor Freshmen ! Obliged to wait upon the Seniors and be admon- 
ished by them, to make the fires and sweep the rooms, and denied the 
use of the Library. No wonder that they looked forward with eager 
expectation to the time when their tutelage would cease, and they be 
promoted to the upper classes. 

The following conditions of taking out books shall be strictly regarded : — Each one 
shall sign a receipt for every book he shall take out, engaging to return it in the like 
good order within the time he is permitted the use of it, which shall be for a folio, four 
weeks; for a quarto, three weeks; for an octavo, two weeks; and for a duodecimo, one 
week. 

In a manuscript catalogue of the Library made out about this time, 
the books are classified and entered under these four heads, viz. : Folio, 
Quarto, Octavo, Duodecimo ; a very simple arrangement, involving no 
conflict of classification systems, and requiring no special knowledge of 
Bibliography. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge, the celebrated auction- 
eers of literary property in London, observe this method to-day in their 
catalogues of the books which they sell. 

No person shall be allowed to take books out of the Library, without the knowledge 
of the Librarian ; and the Librarian shall enter down in the receipt the title and bigness 
of the book taken out and the time when it is taken and returned. For every book not 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 359 

returned agreeable to his receipt, the delinquent shall pay for one month, for a folio, 
one shilling, and so in proportion for a longer or shorter term ; two-thirds as much for 
a quarto ; half as much for an octavo ; and one-quarter as much for a duodecimo. 

The final article in this admirable digest of Laws reads as fol- 
lows : — 

And whereas the statutes are few and general, there must necessarily be lodged with 
the President and Tutors a discretional or parental authority ; therefore, where no 
statute is particularly and expressly provided for a case that may occur, they are to 
exercise this discretionary authority according to the known customs of similar institu- 
tions, and the plain general rules of the moral law. And in general the penalties are 
to be of the more humane kind, such as are adapted to work upon the nobler principles 
of humanity, and to move the more honorable springs of good order and submission to 
government. 

We should be glad, did space allow, to present further extracts from 
this digest. In the last paragraph, as here quoted. President Man- 
ning may be supposed to have embodied his ideas in respect to college 
government and discipline, which, says his pupil and successor. Dr. 
Maxcy, " was mild and peaceful ; conducted by that persuasive author- 
ity, which secures obedience while it conciliates esteem." 

The old stock, so to speak, of students, having now become 
exhausted, there were no more public Commencements until the year 
1786, at which time the Freshman Class of 1782 was prepared to grad- 
uate. The progress of events during this period can best be learned 
from Manning's correspondence, which we present in chronological 
order. From the following letter to Mr. Kane, it appears that his 
friend and former correspondent, the Rev. Benjamin Wallin, had made 
a bequest to the College. How large this bequest was we cannot 
readily determine, as no mention of it is to be found in the records of 
the Corporation. 

To Mr. Henry Kane, Walworth, near London. 

Providence, Nov. 8, 1783. 
Sir: — I sympathize with you in the loss of your late venerable and pious pastor, the 
Hev. Mr. Wallin. I hope the church may find some Elisha to take his mantle, who. 



360 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. X 

under the great Head of the church, may build you up. I am pleased to find that in his 
last will and testament he remembered the College. Mr. Mullett showed me the letter 
from you to him on the subject of discharging or receipting the papers. Mr. John 
Brown, our treasurer, who is empowered by the Trustees and Fellows to conduct all 
the money matters of the Corporation, has settled with Mr. Mullett, as you will see by 
his receipt, attested by the Chancellor and President. You may rely upon receiving his 
receipt at an early day. 

The College has been disjiersed during the war, but is again lifting up its head. 
The damages it has sustained, and the low state of its funds, call aloud for the assist- 
ance of its friends who are able to establish it. It has not yet received a name, for 
want of some distinguished benefactor. Such a person we should be glad to find 
amongst our friends in England unto whom God in his providence has given wealth 
and influence. We are making an effort to do something here in America, but the 
burdens of the war leai'e us but a gloomy prospect. Members of the Corporation have 
subscribed near seven hundred pounds lawful money, six shillings to a dollar, towards 
augmenting our little library and furnishing an apparatus, besides advancing near one- 
half of this sum out of their own pockets for the repairs of this edifice. Every testi- 
mony of regard for it will be most thankfully received and acknowledged by the Cor- 
poration, and especially by him who has the honor to be, sir, 

Your humble servant, 

James Manning. 

To THE Rev. John Ryland. 

Providence, Nov. 8, 1783. 
My Dear Friend: 

It is long since I have had the pleasure of receiving a line from you, but I congratu- 
late you on the return of peace and the opening again of a communication between 
England and America. I shall not at present trouble you with my reasoning on this 
surprising revolution, but shall only say that I am convinced that it is of God. To 
recount the distressing trials through which we have passed during the war, would 
but open again the wounds and cause them to bleed afresh. I suppose Mr. Ryland has 
no less affection for his American brethren than hithertofore, and therefore take the 
liberty of addressing a line to him with the same freedom as before. 

The state of religion throughout America has been on the decline for several years, 
and the most destructive errors have prevailed, excepting a revival three or four 
years since in New England, and some favorable appearances of late. I should have 
excepted, however, the frontier parts of the country, for the wilderness has blossomed 
like the rose, and the Baptist principles have greatly prevailed there. The College 
was broken up for nearly six years, and the edifice devoted to the uses of the army. 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 361 

It is again revived, and twelve students now belong to it. More are expected. The 
edifice received great damage, but has been partially repaired, at the private expense 
of the Corporation, who have also subscribed near £700 lawful money to augment our 
little library and procure an apparatus. The catalogues are making out, and when 
ready will be forwarded to England to give our friends, with you, an opportunity of 
testifying afresh their attachment. We are making application also through this 
continent to get what endowments we can for the College, but our exhausted state 
promises little favorable. The College has the reputation of contributing not a little 
to the interests of religion, not to say civil liberty. This has interested the Baptist 
society in general to look with a more favorable eye upon literature. But the burden 
of taxes, with their losses through the war, furnish them with arguments to withhold 
their pecuniary assistance which the most able logicians cannot confute. Can you find 
a gentleman of fortune among you who wishes to rear a lasting monument to his 
honor in America? If you can, direct his attention to the Hill of Providence, in the 
State of Rhode Island, whereon an elegant edifice is already erected, which waits 
for a name from some distinguished benefactor. The Corporation is determined 
to do this honor to its greatest benefactor. Should some English gentleman deign to 
become such, it may serve to cement that union which I wish ever to see cultivated 
between the two countries, notwithstanding our independence. I promise myself your 
interest in finding such an one, if in your power. I must refer you to a letter to Dr. 
Stennett of this date for a more particular account of the state of affairs amongst us, 
as I have not time now to be particular. I should be happy to receive one of your old- 
fashioned long letters by the return of this vessel or the first which may come. It is 
probable there will be opportunity of transmitting letters as usual twice a year, as the 
trade from Providence is again opened directly to London. I should have written in 
the spring, but was absent when the vessel sailed. Our dear friend Mr. Wallin is 
released from the field of labor, as I learn by my letter from Dr. Stennett, who has 
done me the honor to begin a correspondence, and requested me to continue it. With 
this request I shall with pleasure comply. Please to present my Christian salutation 
to your worthy family, especially to your son, Mr. John Ryland, Jr., from whom a 
letter would be most acceptable to him who wishes you the highest felicity, and is with 
every sentiment of esteem, dear sir, 

Your unworthy brother and servant in the gospel, 

James Manning. 

The Rev. Dr. Stennett, to whom Manning here refers, thus writes 
under date of May 14, 1783 : — 

46 



362 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

Dear Sir: 

It is a long time since I had the pleasure of hearing from you. Among other evils 
that have been suffered from the late unhappy and unnatural condition between this 
country and North America, the embargo that has been laid upon epistolary correspon- 
dence is no inconsiderable one. But this evil is now removed, and you will give me 
leave to congratulate you on the event. "We won't at present enter into the various 
political reasonings concerning this extraordinary revolution. God is no doubt bring- 
ing about his great purposes, and it is to be hoped that even during the late perilous 
times the temple of the Lord has been building with you as well as with us. 

This letter my friend Mr. Mullett,^ brother-in-law to Mr. Caleb Evans of Bristol, puts 
into your hands. He is a very worthy, sociable man, goes over upon very considerable 
affairs of a mercantile kind, and will be capable of giving you a variety of information. 
My brevity now, therefore, you will excuse. It will be an opening, I hope, to a familiar, 
happy corresisondence between us. The state of religion with you, and of the College 
in Rhode Island, I should be glad to understand. Be so good as to remember me affec- 
tionately to all our Christian friends, the ministers in particular, Mr. Backus, etc., etc. 

We have had many changes in oitr congregation by death ; but I hope religion in our 
denomination is not on the decline. Of good Mr. Wallin's death you have no doubt 
heard. His place is not yet supplied. My health has of late been but indifferent, but 
through the goodness of God it is now better. 

I am just publishing a volume of discourses on domestic duties, one of which either 
Mr. Mullett, or Mr. Stillman — who, I take it, is still at Boston — will put into your 
hands. 

You will excuse my hurrying manner at present, and be assured that I am, very 
dear sir. 

Your affectionate friend and brother, 

Samuel Stennett. 



1 Thomas Mullett, Esq., a merchant of the first respectability. He was a native of Taunton, 
England, and died at Clapham, Nov. 14, 1814, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He possessed, says 
his biographer, an excellent understanding, and was a firm friend to civil and religious liberty. 
The following anecdote is related of him in Evans's Life of Richards : — 

" Thomas Mullett, Esq., was soon after the American war at Mount Vernon, the seat of General 
Washington. Besides other flattering marks of attention, Washington, when alone with him in 
his library, asked him if he had seen any individual in that country who was competent to the task 
of writing a history of the late unhappy contest. Mr. M. replied, with his usual presence of mind, 
' I know of one, and one only, competent to the task.' The General eagerly asked, ' Who, sir, can 
that individual be? ' Mr. M. remarked, ' Caesar wrote his own commentaries ! ' The General bowed, 
and replied, ' Csesar wrote his own commentaries ; but, sir, I know the atrocities committed on both 
sides have been so great and so many that they cannot be faithfully recorded, and had better be 
buried in oblivion.' " 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 363 

Manning's reply is one of unusual length, and seems to have been 
written with special care. It is of itself a history of the times during 
the American war : — 

PROvroENCE, Nov. 8th, 1783. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Yours of May 14th was lately handed me by Thomas Mullett, Esq., whom I find to 
justify, and more, the excellent character you gave him; though we have had but a 
small share of his agreeable company, owing to his attention to his widely-extended 
mercantile concerns. I most heartily rejoice to have a free communication again 
opened between England and America; for this I have earnestly wished ever since its 
first interruption. May heaven forbid its ever being again shut! But I feel peculiarly 
happy in the honor you have done me in the renewal of our correspondence. I con- 
gratulate you on the restoration of your health, and hope you may be long continued, 
a rich blessing to the church of God. The flourishing state of our society with you is 
pleasing. 

During some of the first years of the war, God was pleased to display his power, in 
many parts of New England, in a glorious manner, and thousands embraced the 
Baptist principles ; but those halcyon days soon ended, since which has ensued an 
amazing apostasy. The delusion of Relly,' in his book called the Union, etc., has 
been propagated with the most astonishing success by John Murray. The doctrine of 
universal salvation has been licked into various forms by its numerous zealous advo- 
cates ; and as it so exactly coincides with the carnal mind, has been sucked in by multi- 
tudes, among whom are not a few professors of religion, with great avidity. 

About the same time one Jemima "Wilkinson-, near this place, who had been edu- 
cated amongst the Quakers, pretended that she had been dead, reanimated with a 
celestial spirit, and endowed with an extraordinary commission from heaven to preach 
the gospel. She sometimes called herself the Comforter ; and sometimes, when in an 
audience of great numbers, pointing to herself, said that when Jesus Christ first 
appeared, he came in the flesh of a man, but that he was now come in the flesh of a 
woman. She has continued to traverse the country and publicly preach ever since, 
accompanied with a number of disciples who do her homage on their bended knees. 



1 " Doctrine of union between Christ and his Church. By James Relly." 8vo. London, 1731. 

^ Jemima Wilkinson was born in Cumberland, R. I., about the year 1753. In 1789 she and her 
followers removed to Yates County, New York, where they founded a colony. She exacted from 
her adherents the most complete submission and the most menial services. After her death, which 
took place in July, 1819, the colony was broken up. A narrative of her life and character, by David 
Hudson, was published at Geneva, N. Y., in 1821, making a duodecimo volume of two hundred and 
twenty-eight pages. 



364 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

Many have been carried away with her delusion, and believe her to be the Saviour. 
But to close the rear, a number of people, who came from the west of England about 
the commencement of the war, under the direction of an old woman whom her adher- 
ents call the Mother, the Elect Lady, etc., etc., pretend that the new dispensation has 
taken place, and that they are the only and true church. They pretend to absolve the 
sins of their disciples, and of course reqiiire particular confession to be made to them. 
Their particular worship consists in dancing, turning round on the heel, jumping, 
singing, and embracing each other, while they pretend to talk in unknown tongues, 
work miracles, etc., etc. They interdict all intercourse between the sexes, declaring 
the marriage contract void, and pretending to a state of absolute perfection. Some 
carnal fruits, however, have inadvertently resulted from their chaste embraces. And 
— would you believe it? — vast numbers of those who once appeared serious, well- 
disposed persons, have followed their pernicious ways. They are not to be reasoned 
with ; alleging that they know they are right, and they will rave like madmen when 
opposed, calling this the eifect of the Spirit of God. While these delusions on the one 
hand attack the truth of the gospel, growing infidelity on the other lends all its aid 
totally to subvert and destroy it, whilst the professed friends of it seem too generally 
overwhelmed and in a deep sleep. This, you say, is a dismal picture, but not more so 
than true. Yet there are those who stand fast in the truth, and some late revivals 
encourage us to hope for better days. One thing, however, is favorable, — a spirit of 
toleration more universally prevails throughout New England, and the doctrines of 
religious as well as civil liberty are better understood by the people at large, against 
any infractions of which they are determined to guard. 

It was a glorious time of revival in our church when the war first commenced, but 
when the town became a garrison, on account of the vicinity of the royal army on 
Rhode Island, the apprehensions of an attack, and the daily alarms to which we were 
subjected, induced numbers of families to retire into the more interior parts of the 
country, not only for safety but subsistence. This scattered our church and congrega- 
tion abroad, which has never been collected since, near fifty of our members not having 
yet returned. These things, with the disinclination of many to attend public worship 
from the example of the army, have greatly reduced us. It has been a season of heavy 
trials with great numbers of our churches, several of which have been almost totally 
dispersed. After all, when I view the last eight years, and reflect on the amazing 
anxiety and distress through which we have waded, and the astonishing goodness of 
God in preserving so many of us to see the return of peace, I am lost in wonder; 
especially when I consider the ingratitude of our hearts towards our glorious Bene- 
factor. Thousands and thousands of families, once living in afliuence, have, by the 
war, been reduced to beggary. Sometimes famine, and several times pestilence, as 
well as the sword, threatened to combine for our destruction. But language fails in 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 365 

communicating my ideas. I heartily wish you may never know by experience what it 
is to live in the midst of war. 

In the fore part of December, 1776, the royal army landed on Rhode Island, and 
took possession of the same. This brought their camp in plain view from the College 
with the naked eye ; upon which the country flew to arms and marched for Providence. 
There, unprovided with barracks, they marched into the College and disjiersed the 
students, about forty in number. After this the College continued to be occupied for a 
barrack and an hospital alternately until June, 1782, when it was left in a most ruinous 
situation. The Corporation advanced out of their own pockets near one thousand 
dollars for the most necessary repairs, and ordered the course of education to recom- 
mence ; but under these circumstances the number of students was small, as the former 
number had mostly completed their education in other colleges, or turned their atten- 
tion to other objects. Last September, five young gentlemen, who had studied with 
me in jirivate, were admitted to the honors of the College at a public Commencement. 
Their performances met such a universal approbation of a numerous audience, as 
inspired the Corporation with fresh zeal to promote the Institution. Mr. John Brown, 
the Treasurer of the College, offered to give a sum equal to what all the other members 
would subscribe, towards procuring an addition to our little library, and a philosoph- 
ical apparatus. By this means we obtained subscriptions for near £700 lawful money, 
six shillings to the dollar, and the catalogues are being made out. This we propose to 
follow with an application to Europe, as well as throughout America, for further bene- 
factions. "We have nominated persons to this service, but we fear few if any of them 
will engage in the work, on account of the difficulty of leaving home, and the fears of 
not meeting a cordial reception in Great Britain. But I rejoice to find, from late 
accounts, that our friends remain friends to the College, and wish to know the state 
of it. This encourages us to solicit every assistance they can give, all of which we 
greatly need. I have the satisfaction to find that it has, under all its disadvantages, 
been instrumental in greatly promoting Baptist principles, and the spread of civil and 
religious liberty throughout New England. Our number of students is twelve, and 
more are expected soon ; but the great objections which operate against us are the want 
of an apparatus and library, and the want of professors. Of these advantages the old 
colleges amongst us can boast. Our library consists of about five hundred volumes, 
most of which are both very ancient and very useless, as well as very ragged and 
unsightly.^ Our prospects to remedy this, in America, are at present very unpromis- 



i The friends of the College will observe the contrast between these five hundred "unsightly" 
Tolumes, arranged and kept iu a dark and cheerless chamber in the College edifice, now University 
Hall, and the noble Library of the present day, consisting of eighty-five thousand standard books 
of approved editions, in choice and substantial bindings, and twenty-five thousand pamphlets ; 
arranged in an elegant and costly building of approved modern construction, well warmed, well 



366 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. X. 

ing. Last fall the state of the College was laid before the Associations in New England 
and Philadelphia, which strongly recommended to all the churches to make collections 
for endowing it; the same has been done this year, — from all which not £20 sterling 
has been raised, such is the scarcity of money, the burden of taxes, and the reduced 
state of the country. The society at large never appeared so disposed to assist if it 
were but in their power ; but, generally speaking, the Baptists here are the poor of this 
world. 

Several pious youth, who promise fair for the ministry, having picked up some 
grammar learning, have applied to me to know whether any way can open for their 
assistance in getting an education. This has led me to think of a plan to assist such, 
and I have sketched out the following: That the Kev. Messrs. Samuel Stillman, Gard- 
ner Thurston, Isaac Backus, John Cano, Hezekiah Smith, with the President, be a 
standing committee of the Corporation, and in case of the demise of any of them their 
number to be filled up from time to time by themselves, who, or the major part of them, 
shall examine and approve of such as shall be candidates to receive the assistance 
which may be proffered to worthy characters in that way, and to say in what propor- 
tions it shall be dealt out to them. It will be easy to procure a vote of the Corporation 
to invest this committee with all necessary powers to discharge this trust ; and I have 
fixed upon men whose doctrinal and practical principles, as well as their character in 
this country, will entitle them to the highest confidence of benefactors to this fund. I 
was long since convinced that a plan of this kind would be vastly serviceable, and pro- 
posed it to some of my friends, whose only objection against it was its interference with 
endowing the College, which was an object of the greatest importance ; but I am of 
opinion that many would be induced to give for this purpose who would not on any 
other consideration. Should a donation be offered, and these persons be mentioned for 
the trust, in this way I have suggested, by some gentleman out of the Corporation, I 
am convinced that it would immediately take, and that something considerable could 
soon be raised, which would be of standing benefit to our churches, and more widely 
disseminate the knowledge of truth. ^ Such has been the feeling, through New Eng- 



lighted, and well ventilated ; open at all hours of the day and evening, and accessible to students 
and graduates without distinction of class ; the whole increased from time to time from the income 
of fifty-seven thousand dollars. Among these " five hundred volumes " was a copy of Eliot's Indian 
Bible, obtained perhaps in 1771 through Morgan Edwards, which is now regarded as one of the 
most valuable books in the collection, and worth a fabulous sum. It once belonged to Roger 
"Williams, as it contains notes in his familiar handwriting, both in shorthand and in English. 

1 The system of scholarships, inaugurated by President Sears, is based upon the same general 
principles which Manning here develops ; with this difCerence, however, — that the scholarships 
are not of necessity Baptist in their character, or confined exclusively to students who have or who 
may have in view the Christian ministry. These points are left for the respective founders of 
scholarships to determine. The majority of them, serve in carrying into effect precisely these 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 367 

land, in favor of a college education, that our pious illiterate ministers are greatly cir- 
cumscribed in their sphere of usefulness, of which many of them are sufficiently sen- 
sible, and heartily wish their successors may be enabled to obviate this objection. A 
great and effectual door is opened for the labors of Baptist ministers throughout our 
vast, extended frontiers, and many new churches have been lately constituted in that 
howling wilderness ; and indeed the labors of our society seem there generally pre- 
ferred. 

I fear I have already trespassed upon your patience; but you wished for various 
information ; and you must consider this letter contains the substance of a ten years' 
correspondence. I shall be happy to have your assistance and patronage of the Col- 
lege, and your opinions on the subjects proposed by the first opportunity. I had forgot 
to mention that, amidst the wreck of public credit, we have been so fortunate as to pre- 
serve, undiminished, our little fund, though as yet, from the exhausted state of the 
treasury, which has operated greatly to my personal disadvantage, we have not been 
able to command any interest. I have the assistance of a Tutor, and a grammar mas- 
ter keeps school in the College edifice. 

I cannot say in what light you view the American Revolution, but to serious people 
here it appears to be of God ; and if the counsels of Great Britain are conducted with 
wisdom and moderation, it will in the issue be of no disadvantage to her in a national 
view. In a religious view I am certain it should not operate to produce any discord 
among the subjects of that Prince whose kingdom is not of this world. As far as my 
acquaintance extends, I am convinced that, on our part, the former attachment still 
continues ; and I am sure I have as little reason to doubt it on yours. 



views of President Manning. At the meeting of the Warren Association held in the year 1791, the 
Rev. Dr. Stillman presented a plan, which, he stated, he had received from a friend, for establish- 
ing a charitable fund, " for the purpose of assisting such young men of the Baptist denomination 
as may appear to be suitably qualified for the ministry, with a collegiate education." Who this 
friend was we cannot positively state, but we have no doubt whatever in regard to the source 
whence the plan itself originated. After a second reading it was unanimously adopted by the 
Association, and a board of trustees, consisting of twelve, was chosen. This board was styled, 
*' Trustees of the Baptist Education Fund." It was required that " so many of the Baptist Fellows 
of Rhode Island College who are members of churches shall be trustees of this fund," the remain- 
ing number to be chosen by ballot from and by the Warren Association. Of the College Fellows on 
the board, were Dr. Stillman, of Boston, Dr. Smith, of Haverhill, Rev. William Williams, of Wren- 
tham. Dr. Maxcy, President of the College, and Robert Rogers, Esq., of Newport. Those elected 
by the Association, were Isaac Backus, of Middleborough, Dr. Baldwin, of Boston, Rev. Joseph 
Grafton, of Newton, Rev. Noah Alden of Bellingham, Rev. Thomas Green, of Cambridge, Rev. 
George Robinson, of Bridgewater, and Rev. Isaiah Parker, of Harvard. 

In February, 1794, the Society thus commenced was duly incorporated by the Legislature of Mass- 
achusetts. In 1816 a separate organization was formed, which, in 1823, was incorporated under the 
name of "The Baptist Education Society of the Warren Association." At this time the funds, 
now amounting to .$3,600, were equally divided between this Society and the Boston Association, 
which had been formed in the year 1811. Hence the origin and present funds of the Society now 
known as the Rhode Island Baptist Education Society. 



368 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

Mr. Mullett was kind enough to put into my hands your volume on domestic duties, 
and I heartily thank you for the pleasure which the perusal of it gave me. I wish 
there were more of them in this country. They are greatly needed, and I think would 
sell. Before the war, for supplying the College and my friends, I kept a small assort- 
ment of books, which I yearly imported from London. I still mean to do the same, and 
have thought of getting a number of our Baptist authors for the supply of our society 
in different parts of the country. I think there has not been sufficient attention paid to 
our own writings by our own people. Should you think proper to send any of your 
works for that purpose, on the same terms which booksellers with you have them, I 
shall exert myself to sell them, and directly remit you the money. I have mentioned 
my letter to you to Dr. Llewelyn, to whom, if you please, you may show it, and also to 
Mr. Ryland, and any other friend who may, in your opinion, be disposed to serve the 
College, or wish for the information which it contains. By every opportunity I shall 
be happy to receive letters from Dr. Stennett. With sentiments of esteem, I am, 
dear sir. 

Your brother in Christ, 

James Manning. 

The distinguished scholar to whom the following excellent letter is 
addressed died on the 7th of August, three months previous to its date. 
What he would have done for the College had he lived, cannot of course 
be determined. It is certain that his feelings towards the Institution 
were friendly. In the original subscription book of Morgan Edwards, 
his name appears as the largest subscriber on the list. Among the dupli- 
cate books presented to the library by the Bristol Education Society, 
we notice a fine uncut copy of the "Biographia Britannica," in seven 
volumes folio, a gift from Llewelyn, who bequeathed his library to that 
society. It contains his book-mark, and states the time of his death. 
So also, " Dio Cassii Historia Romana," a superb copy in two large folio 
volumes, printed on linen paper, and bound in full Russia gilt. 

To Thomas Llewelyn, LL. D., London. 

PROvroENCE, Nov. 8, 1783. 

Sir: — By Thomas Mullett, Esq., for whose agreeable acquaintance I am indebted to 

an introductory line from Dr. Stennett, I had the pleasure of hearing that you are yet 

alive, and, though in a declining state of health, are still protracting your usefulness in 

the cause of the Redeemer and the best interests of mankind. Your known zeal in pro- 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 369 

moting the Baptist society for a series of years, your ability to serve it, and the desire 
you expressed, in his hearing, of knowing the state of the College at Providence, have 
encouraged me to address you on this subject, at once to give that information and to 
solicit your patronage of an institution which has already, in the minds of unbiased 
judges, greatly disseminated the knowledge of civil and religious liberty through this 
country, and added respectability to the Baptist profession. Bleeding with the wounds 
of war, it now solicits the relief which the benevolent and opulent alone can afford. 

From its first establishment until the commencement of the late unnatural war, it 
gradually increased in the number of students, which at that time was about forty. It 
then began to attract the attention of the public, and bid fair to have been greatly aug- 
mented in numbers, as many were then preparing with a design to complete their edu- 
cation here. This town becoming a frontier, in the year 1776, the troops took possession 
of the edifice, to which purpose it continued to be appropriated until June, 1782. Great 
waste and destruction, you will naturally conclude, were made upon it by men whose 
profession has destruction for its object. To repair the edifice the Corporation 
advanced money out of their own pockets, as also to fit up some rooms for the accom- 
modation of students who are likely to enter soon. The number of these is now twelve, 
and more are soon expected. In short, we want nothing but a proper endowment to 
enable xis to furnish a suitable library and apparatus, and properly support able 
instructors, to render the College very respectable ; the grand objection against it is the 
want of these things, of which they can boast at other colleges. Those inimical to our 
profession are exceeding vigilant to prevent its growth, from an idea of its importance 
to the Baptist cause. Hitherto a very great part of our society in this country have 
been by no means friendly to it; but many have altered their opinion, and would assist 
if they could ; but, reduced by the war and the weight of taxes, at present they can 
only wish it well. Cambridge College was so fortunate as to attract the attention of a 
Hollis, New Haven of a Yale, and New Hampshire of a Dartmouth, who have given 
their names to these seats of learning. We should think ourselves no less happy in the 
patronage of a Llewelyn. Llewelyn College appears well when written, and sounds no less 
agreeably when spoken. Nor do I know a name which would please me better to 
hear extolled on our public anniversaries as the founder of the Institution. The Char- 
ter, one of which I beg leave to present to you, empowers the Corporation to give the 
College a name in honor of its most distinguished benefactor, which they are resolved 
to do. I know your philanthropy and principles of liberty would not suffer you to 
object that we are now independent of the British Empire. You too well know that 
necessity, dire necessity impelled to this measure a people whose feelings revolted at the 
idea upon any other ground. Besides, subjects of the Prince of Peace cannot approve 
of strong local attachments. It is the ardent wish of the human mind to establish a 
47 



370 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. X. 

permanent fame. As this appears to be a passion natural to man, so it is doubtful 
whether he feels a stronger, or one that ceases to influence him later. And what can 
more effectually gratify this predominant affection, than the grateful recollection of the 
latest posterity that we have laid foundations for improving the human intellect, dis- 
seminating useful knowledge, and propagating the gospel of peace over almost half the 
globe? If we consider the rapid progress of religion, letters, government, and arts in 
this new world, where on earth can a theatre be erected, from which the human char- 
acter can be exhibited to better advantage (in largely contributing to the progress of 
religion, society, and manners) than in America ? But you, sir, need only consider that 
patronizing this College will directly contribute to the propagation of the gospel of 
Christ in its simplicity to bestow upon it your friendship. Of the prospects of this I 
have given some hints to Dr. Stennett, in a letter of this date, to which I refer you, as 
I have desired him to communicate the contents of it to his friends, and those of the 
College, particularly requesting him to show it to Dr. Llewelyn. Therein I have men- 
tioned the state of our library, apparatus, fund, etc. The whole interest of the latter 
does not amount to more, if so much, as £60 sterling per annum. "We propose to for- 
ward our catalogue as soon as it is ready, and invite our friends to lend us their assist- 
ance in purchasing the books. Should your views be different from mine in reference 
to the premises, I beg your forgiveness for troubling you on this subject through my 
zeal for the College ; but should you think favorably of the proposal, you will do a sin- 
gular favor to a grateful Corporation, the Baptist Society in America, and I doubt not 
to remote posterity, but to none more than to him who, with every sentiment of esteem, 
has the honor to subscribe himself, sir, 

Your friend and servant in the gospel of Christ, 

James Manning. 

The members of the Warren Association, at its meeting this year, 
to which Manning in his correspondence alludes, prepared an address 
to their "friends and countrymen," which presents a faithful picture 
of the times at the close of the war, and exhibits in a pleasing light 
the views and prospects of the Baptist denomination. We cannot 
resist the temptation to introduce here the closing paragraphs. They 
have special reference to the College, and show how intimate, formerly, 
were the relations it sustained to the churches : — 

Permit us to add a word concerning education, and we shall have done. In Genesis 
xvii. God made a covenant with Abraham, which constituted a church in his house- 
hold, who had a large grant of choice lands that in due time they were to take posses- 



1780-1783. AND MANNING. 371 

sion of by destroying the heathen inhabitants ; and as long as that state continued, they 
were to make a visible difference in commerce and government, as well as worship, 
between the circumcised and all other people in the world. In the same church the 
priests were to have the whole government in worship, and were also to declare what the 
sentence of the law was in capital cases ; and the judges were to carry the same into 
execution (Deut. xvii. 8-12). When Christ came he fulfilled the law, and abolished 
those distinctions among men ; and constituted his church upon a better covenant — 
established upon better promises. His word calls said covenant with Abraham the 
covenant of circumcision (Acts vii. 8), but in after ages deceitful men took away that 
name, and called it the covenant of grace ; into which they essayed to bring children 
before they believed, or could choose for themselves. And all colleges and superior 
places of learning were entirely under the command of such men for many centuries ; 
by which means, natural affection, the force of education, temporal interest, and self- 
righteousness, all conspired together to bind people in that way ; wherein the orthodox 
have claimed a right to treat all others as others have not a right to treat them. But a 
college is now erected at Providence upon a plan of equal liberty, where education is 
to be had without any sectarian or party tests. Other colleges have been erected and 
much of their expense borne by governments ; but this has been done entirely by per- 
sonal generosity; and some men of influence have tried to crush it; therefore it calls 
loudly, to all lovers of knowledge and liberty, to contribute their mite towards its 
necessary support. 

News of the definite treaty of peace between the United States and 
Great Britain arrived in Providence on the second day of December, 
1783. This treaty secured to the Colonies their independence, and the 
possession, says Bancroft, of all the country from the St. Croix to the 
Southwestern Mississippi, from the Lake of the Woods to the St. 
Mary's. But who, says a writer, can estimate the price paid. We can 
count up the millions of dollars expended, and number the lives that 
were lost in that contest. But who can form an estimate of the suffer- 
ings of the inhabitants at large, and of the privations they bore, in 
raising that sum ; or, of the affliction, and sorrow, and pain, that pre- 
ceded and followed the deaths of the martyrs of freedom. How grate- 
ful to the citizens of Providence especially, who had suffered more 
than others, and were now, in consequence of the war, destitute of 
many of the necessaries of Hfe, must have been the news of peace at 
last. A service of thanksgiving, at the request of the town, was held 



372 BROWN UNIVERSITY. Chap. X. 

in the Baptist Meeting-house. "Good Mr. Snow," says Howland, 
"offered the first prayer. He began by saying, 'Convened on this 
solemn occasion.' Doct. Hitchcock commenced, 'Assembled on this 
joyful occasion.' The text was, ' The Lord hath done great things for 
us, whereof we are glad. ' Doct. Manning read the Psalms, and offered 
the concluding prayer. These three were all the ministers then belong- 
ing to the town, except Mr. Graves, who had ceased to officiate." 



CHAPTER XI. 

1784-1785. 

Letter to Manning from the Rev. Dr. Rippon.of London —Most .of the Bajitist ministers 
in England on the side of America in the war — Manning's reply to Rippon — Apos- 
tasy of Rev. Elhanan Winchester — Sketch of Hon. Asher Robbins — Baptists com- 
pelled to cpntribute to the support of Pedobaptist worship in Massachusetts and 
Connecticut — Resolution of the "Warren Association in reference thereto — Letter to 
Rev. Thomas Ustick on the subject— Sketch of Rev. Elhanan "Winchester — His 
troubles with the Baptist church in Philadelphia — Two letters to Rev. Dr. Smith — 
"William Wilkinson and the College Grammar School — Extract from the Providence 
Gazette respecting the transfer of the school from the College to the brick school-house 

— Letter to Rev. Dr. Caleb Evans, of Bristol, England — Condition of the College — 
Efforts to add to its funds and to increase its library — Evans's reply to Manning — 
Illu.stration lof Manning's numerous and perplexing cares — Letter from Rev. A. 
Booth — Manning's reply — Letter to Rev. John Ryland, Jr. — Letter to Rev. Dr. 
Rippon, introducing Dr. Solomon Drowne, of Providence — Sketch of Dr. Drowne 

— Letter to Hon. David Howell, in Congress — Letter to Rev. Thomas Ustick — 
Degree of Doctor in Divinity conferred on Manning by the University of Pennsylva- 
nia—Second letter to Hon. David Howell — Letter to Thomas Mackaness, Esq., of 
London — Manning's plan to establish a library for the Baptist Association in Ken- 
tucky — Letter to Rev. Dr. Evans — Manning's philanthropic efforts to enlighten the 
illiterate Baptist ministers of Kentucky and "V^irginia — Extract from Semple's 
History of the Baptists of "Virginia — Letter to Manning from Hon. Granville Sharp, 
of London — Manning's reply — Library increased to two thousand volumes — Eccle- 
siastical matters pertaining to the Episcopal Church — Letter to Rev. Dr. Rippon — 
Biographical sketch of Rev. Stephen Gano — Character of Hon. Stephen Hopkins, the 
first Chancellor of the College — Letter from Rev. Dr. Evans announcing a donation 
of books to the College Library from the Bristol Education Society — Character of the 
donation and of the aforesaid Society — Letter to Hon. David Howell in behalf of the 
Corporation, urging him to use his influence with the members of Congress in favor 
of a petition for indemnity for injuries which the College building sustained during 
the war — Death of Hon. Joseph Brown — Correspondence between Manning and 
John Gill, of London, respecting the publications of Rev. Dr. John Gill — List of Dr. 
Gill's published works— Pleasant bibliographical " morceau " respecting the first vol- 
ume of Backus's Ecclesiastical History. 

The following letter is from the Rev. Dr. John Rippon, of London, 
successor of the Rev. Dr. Gill. The remarkable statement which he 
makes, that all the Baptist ministers in London but two, and most of 
the Baptist clergy in the country, were on the side of the Americans in 



374: BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

the "late dispute," as he mildly terms the war, is as gratifying to us of 
the present day as it doubtless was to Manning and his friends. The 
reader of the correspondence now begun will readily perceive that Dr. 
Rippon, from his character and position, was well qualified to judge of 
the views and feelings of his brethren in matters of public moment. 

Grange Road, Southwark, May 1, 1784. 
Reverend and Dear Sir : 

I have long wished for an opportunity of introducing myself to ;you and to several 
other brethren on your side of the Atlantic. And as God in his wisdom has now put an 
end to the late bloody and unrighteous war, and opened a free communication between 
this country and America, I take the liberty, by the hands of your neighbor, Mr. Chase, 
(who speaks in the highest terms of you, Messrs. Stillman, Gano, etc.), of soliciting such 
a Christian correspondence as your wisdom may suggest, and your large connections 
and many avocations may permit. 

To describe myself is a work less proper than what I wish to be employed in ; but as it 
is probable my name has never reached your ears, it may not be altogether improper to 
hint that I was born at Tiverton, in Devonshire, about forty miles from Plymouth, and 
about sixteen from Upottery, where my father is minister. I was called by grace, I 
trust, when about sixteen years of age, became a student at Bristol under the Rev. 
Messrs. Hugh and Caleb Evans when I was between seventeen and eighteen, and con- 
tinued there between three and four years. After the death of Dr. Gill, I was invited 
thence to town as a probationer amongst his people, and with them have been comfort- 
ably settled as pastor for more than eleven years. The church now consists of about 
three hundred members, many of whom are very lively, affectionate, and evangelical. 
The declaration of their faith and practice, which they made at their admission, is at the 
close of the three volumes of sermons and tracts accompanying this, your acceptance of 
which will do me an honor, if you consider them as a small token of the great affection 
I bear you as a faithful and honored servant of our illustrious Master. 

Whatever scepticism attacks my mind, of this I am certain, that there are brethren 
in your country "whom not having seen I love." This has frequently turned to me 
for a testimony of my having passed from death unto life. Nor did I least of all expe- 
rience this in the year 1780, when Mr. Wallin (who left earth for heaven in the begin- 
ning of the year 1783) received a letter from Boston containing an account of a great 
revival through New England, and in which it was said Mr. Winchester was very 
instrumental. I sent this account to Mr. Evans, of Bristol, and he printed an extract 
from it in the following Western Association letter. It afforded a joy amongst many 
churches better felt than described. Some of us thought with pleasure on Isa. lix. 19. 




John Rippon. 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 375 

But, alas ! the next account we hear is that this useful man has wofuUy changed 
his sentiments. Lord, what is man! A sermon of Mr. Wallin's, called the "Outcasts 
Comforted," on Isa. Ixvi. 5, has been reprinted here, with an appendix said to be 
written by one Clarke, a mystic. It contains observations on the seventh trumpet, and 
a dissertation on the altar of brass called Ariel, etc. My heart has been grieved for 
the good man, and I haA'^e wept in secret places on his account. Is it true that Mr. 
Morgan Edwards, to whom I intend writing soon, has printed a book in vindication 
of him? 

I believe all our Baptist ministers, except two, and most of our brethren in the 
country, were on the side of the Americans in the late dispute. But sorry, very sorry 
were we to hear that the College was a hospital, and the meeting-houses were forsaken 
and occupied for civil or martial purposes. We wept when the thirsty plains drank 
the blood of your departed heroes, and the shout of a king was amongst us when your 
well-fought battles were crowned with victory. And to this hour we believeithat the 
independence of America will for a while secure the liberty of this country ; but that 
if the continent had been reduced, Britain would not long have been free. 

The last Warren Association letter that I have seen is dated 1779. It came with Mr. 
Backus's History. Since then many important things must have happened, and it may 
be there is much good news to be conveyed to us respecting our sister churches in the 
wilderness. Glad should I be to hear of the success of the gospel and of the prosperity 
of the College. When shall the priests of Zion be clothed with salvation, and her 
saints shout aloud for joy? O Lord, let " thy kingdom come," let it spread through all 
the world, and particularly let it come in my heart, and in the heart of thy honored 
servant for whom thes6 lines are designed. 

If I am not mistaken, the Baptist in this country is more flourishing than the Pres- 
byterian or Independent. In most of our churches there is a cordial attachment to the 
truth as it is in Jesus, attended with a greater liberality towards others who differ 
from us than was formerly expressed. May a Christian contention for the truth and a 
general Catholicism forever walk hand in hand, that unconverted men may have reason 
again to say, " See how these Christians love! " 

This afternoon I have been employed in packing books as follows : Gill's Sermons 
and Tracts, 3 vols., blue boards, for yourself; do., in sheets, for that much respected 
man, Mr. Stillman, of Boston; a dozen of Watts's Hymns and Psalms, and half a dozen 
Bibles and as many Testaments, to be disposed of as you think best. Gill should have 
been bound neatly ; but as Mr. Chase is likely to sail Monday morning, it cannot be 
done. Will you do me the favor of making this apology to Mr. Stillman if I have not 
time to write him, as I fear I shall not, for it is Saturday evening, nine o'clock, now, 
and it was past eight before I began this hasty scrawl. 

With the above I have sent three prints, — one of the Rev. Dr. Gill, another of the 



376 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XL 

late Rev. Hngli Evans, my much esteemed tutor, and another of myself. I have not 
time to get them glazed and packed. The first two deserve a respectful place in the 
College, and the last courts no situation but a place of solitude under your hospitable 
roof. I shall be much obliged to you to circulate the proposals which relate to Saurin 
and Claude, and to notice the advertisement of Gill's books which I have sent. If any 
of your friends want any of them, I can procure them at bookseller's price, consider- 
ably cheaper than the printed list. It will rejoice me to be of any service to them, 
and more especially if they are poor ministers. I have not time to read this over 
now, as a person has been waiting for it while I write. Excuse my haste. Remember 
me respectfully, if you please, to Mr. Howell, your assistant. Pray for me, write me 
the first opportunity, and be assured I think it a great felicity to have any good reason 
to subscribe myself, 

Your affectionate brother and servant, 

John Rippon. 
P. S. — I am this week thirty-three years of age. 

Rippon is not the only one who has left on record the views and 
sentiments of the Baptists of England in regard to the War of the 
American Revolution. The celebrated Robert Hall regarded it as 
unrighteous as well as unpopular "with men of true liberal principles." 
In his published works, the well-known John Ryland, of Northampton, 
whom we have noticed in previous chapters as a correspondent of Man- 
ning, and a benefactor of the College, is quoted as saying on a certain 
occasion : — "If I were General Washington, I would summon all the 
American ofhcers ; they should form a circle around me, and I would 
address them, and we would offer a libation in our own blood, and I 
would order one of them to bring a lancet and a punch-bowl; and he 
should bleed us all, one by one, into this punch-bowl ; and I would be 
the first to bare my arm ; and when the punch-bowl was full, and we 
had all been bled, I would call upon every man to consecrate himself to 
the work, by dipping his sword into the bowl, and entering into a sol- 
emn covenant engagement by oath, one to another, and we would 
swear by Him that sits upon the throne, and liveth forever and ever, 
that we would never sheath our swords while there was an English sol- 
dier in arms remaining in America." 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 377 

To this letter from Rippon Manning replies : — 

Providence, Aug. 3, 1784. 
Beverend and Dear Sir: 

I have now before me your most acceptable favor of May 1st, for which I return you 
many thanks, as well as for the package and its agreeable contents. I felicitated 
myself on a large and free correspondence with Christian friends in England on the 
return of peace, and accordingly wrote to Mr. Wallin, from New York, at the first dawn 
of it, but soon after received information that he had rested from his labors. By the 
first vessel from the State this was followed by letters to Drs. Stennett and Llewelyn 
and Mr. Ryland ; but these, I conjecture from your letter, never reached them, since 
they contained such information as I judged would be wished for by our brethren on 
your side of the water, and such as in your letter you request. Nothing could be more 
agreeable than the correspondence you propose, which I shall endeavor to keep up with 
the greatest punctuality. Your letter did not give me the first information of your 
name, etc., as Mr. "Wallin had favored me with the sermon and charge delivered at 
your settlement. But the interruption of all intercourse by means of the war, left me 
in a great measure ignorant of the state of our churches and ministers in England, 
until Dr. Stennett's letter, last fall, by Mr. MuUett, and a short acquaintance with 
Capt. Thomas Mesnard last May in New York, who gave me such a pleasing idea of Mr. 
Rippon, that I requested him to present my Christian salutation, and inform him that 
a letter would be highly pleasing to your unknown friend. 

Your letter, it appears, was then written in consequence of Mr. Chase's recommen- 
dation, to whom I am obliged for his favorable opinion. As soon as the package of 
books and the prints came safe to hand, Mr. Stillman's were sent forward, together 
with his letter, and I shall distribute the Bibles, Testaments, Psalms, and Hymns 
as I think will be most serviceable to the poor. The proposals for Dr. Gill's, Saurin's, 
and Claude's works I have circulated ; but the impoverished state of the country, and 
the disinclination to reading books on religious subjects, presage but a small sale at 
present. Some, however, will, I expect, be wanted, for which I shall expect your 
kindly proffered services. I most heartily rejoice at your success in the ministry, and 
the hapijy state of the church of which you are pastor. May the Lord continue to 
strengthen you for his service, and honor you with many more seals of your ministry. 
You speak the language of my heart towards brethren in your country when you 
express your affectionate regard for us. I conceive this results from the very nature 
of the religion of Jesus. Often has this prompted me to plan a voyage to Europe ; but 
such have hitherto been, and most probably will continue to be, my embarrassments, 
that I shall be denied this privilege ; but I hope to meet the whole family at home, and 
48 



378 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

forever enjoy their improving society above when our labors on earth are finished. 
The prints of Dr. Gill and Rev. Hugh Evans shall have a respectful place in the Col- 
lege, and as I daresay Mr. Rippon loves good company, he will excuse me for placing 
his there also. Not that I am unwilling to furnish it, and its agreeable original, with 
the best accommodations my house can afford, for this I should esteem a peculiar favor ; 
but as I promise myself your future patronage of the College, I know of no place so 
suitable as that. 

The apostasy of Mr. "Winchester has been for a lamentation amongst us. Self- 
exaltation was the rock on which he split. Though he had from the first been remark- 
able for instability of character, he inflicted a grievous wound on the cause, especially in 
Philadelphia ; but I think he is now at the end of his tether. His interest is declining, 
which will most probably prove a deadly wound. I saw him last May, and from his 
appearance think he has nearly run his race. His state of health will not admit of his 
preaching, and by a letter last week from the Rev. Thomas Ustick, who now sujiplies 
the pulpit in Philadelphia, I learn that Winchester and his friends have lost the case in 
their suit for the meeting-house and the property of the church. It really appeared 
that God owned his labors in the revival in New England. Perhaps for attempting to 
take the glory to himself, he has laid him aside as an improper instrument for his 
work, who justly challenges the whole of it as his own. From common fame, and from 
what I myself saw, I really think this to be the case. 

Mr. Morgan Edwards has not printed in vindication of his principles, but he read me 
a manuscript more than a year since on that subject, which he did not own, though 
charged then with being the author. He did not deny it ; whereby he was entreated 
not to add the printing of this to the long list of imprudent things which had already 
so greatly grieved his friends and so injured his reputation. This plainness did not 
please him, but I thought the use of it was duty. 

Enclosed I send you the minutes of the Eastern Association since the year 1779; and 
as I flatter myself that my letters must have reached Dr. Stennett, etc., before this, I 
refer you to the information which they contain, observing in general that at the com- 
mencement of the war the glorious revival in which the College and the town of Prov- 
idence, as well as many places adjacent, had so largely shared (during the continuance 
of which, in the course of a year, I baptized more than a hundred persons), began to 
decline ; and except the visitation you refer to in your letter, the state of religion, sav- 
ing in the frontier parts, has been on the decline until about the close of the war, since 
which public worship is better attended, and many souls have of late been hopefully 
converted. On a visit to New York and the Jerseys, the last spring, I found the people 
anxious for the Word, and hopeful appearances in almost every place where I was called 
to preach. By a letter the last week I find the work increases, especially under the 
ministry of Mr. Wilson, a young minister resident at Bordentown, in West Jersey, and 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 379 

my Brother Gano, in New York. As Mr. Backus is here, I prevailed on him to give a 
sketch of the reformation between two and three hundred miles east of us, of which he 
has had some direct and late accounts. This, for your satisfaction, I also enclose. 
Lord's Day sennight I conversed with a person from there, who professed to be a sub- 
ject of the work. He gave a most remarkable account of the display of God's power 
and grace amongst them. In general our churches appear to stand steadfast in the 
doctrines of grace ; and indeed the Baptist churches are almost left alone in defending 
them against Arminians and Universalists, as our brethren of other denominations 
who are sound appear much discouraged. I believe I may say with truth, that the 
Baptist society in America increases more rapidly than any other religious denomina- 
tion ; but in general we are the poor of the world. God grant that we may be rich in 
faith. 

1 rejoice to hear that our Baptist brethren in England sympathized with us in our 
deep affliction. Our blood indeed was wantonly shed, — of this I have been a deeply 
interested spectator, — but I trust God meant it for good. I think I can say that I never 
in one instance doubted the justice of our cause, and I desire to bless God that I never 
thirsted for the blood of those who were shedding ours. But I wish to banish from my 
mind those scenes of horror. 

Brotherly kindness prevails more amongst the several denominations throughout 
New England than heretofore, and of course the prejudices against the Baptists are 
greatly abated. Nothing is more common than the most cordial invitations into the 
pulpits of the Pedobaptists when I travel through the country. I rejoice to hear that the 
same spirit prevails with you. Union in Christ, in my opinion, should lead his disciples 
to the strongest expressions of love towards one another. 

The College edifice suffered greatly by the troops, who had it in possession nearly six 
years. To repair these damages has been a difficult task, while denied compensation 
from the public, and destitute of funds for that purpose. The members of the Corpora- 
tion have repeatedly submitted to make such partial repairs as were absolutely necessary 
to its preservation. With all these difficulties to combat, it begins, however, again to 
revive. It now consists of twenty-two members, and we expect an addition of several 
more this fall. Mr. Howell, my former colleague, has been for several years in the civil 
departments, and is now in the Continental Congress, where he has been upwards of two 
years. Mr. Asher Bobbins,^ an alumnus of Yale College, in Connecticut, is now a tutor. 



1 Hon. Asher Robbins, LL.D. He was born in Connecticut, and was graduated at Yale College 
in the year 1782. Soon after completing his collegiate course, he was elected a tutor under Manning, 
which office he held for eight years. While thus occupied in quickening the diligence of his 
pupils, and in imbuing their minds with a genuine relish for the varied forms of classical beauty, 
he sought every opportunity to cultivate his own taste for the classics, and indeed for every species 
of elegant learning. After resigning his tutorship, he studied law under the Hon. William 
Channing, of Newport, at that time the Attorney-General of Rhode Island. Here he established 



380 brow:n" university Chap. xi. 

Sept. 16th. As no opportunity presented to forward the above, I beg leave to add that 
at the anniversary meeting of the Corporation of the 1st instant, the Faculty testified 
their regard for Mr. Rippon by conferring on him the degree of Master in the Arts. I 
should have herewith sent the diploma, but could not get it written in time. 
Hope by the next opportunity to have it ready. Last week I attended the 
Association at Mr. Hunt's place in Middleborough. We had a most harmonious 
meeting; and though the addition to our churches is not so great as in some 
former years past, yet there are many jiromising appearances of a revival in them. 
There were present some ministering brethren from the eastern part of New Hampshire, 
and Mr. Case, of whom Mr. Backus makes mention, as being signally blessed as an 
instrument in turning many to God in the northeastern part of Massachusetts. They 
assured us that God was working wonders through a great extent of that newly-settled 
country, that gospel laborers were much wanted there, and that in the revivals great 
numbers embraced the Baptist principles. The most sorrowful accounts we received 
were from several places in the Massachusetts and Connecticut States, where Pedobap- 
tists are again taxing our people, and seizing their persons and property, to compel them 
to support their worship. Poor men ! They grudge their neighbors that liberty which 
they themselves enjoy, and for which, by their sides, they have fought and bled. This, 
however, in the issue may operate favorably. The whole body of Baptists seem deter- 
mined to maintain their rights, and support those who may be called to suffer. This you 
will see by a resolution i entered into at the Association, the minutes of which I should 



himself in the practice of law, and here he resided during the remainder of his life. From 1825 to 
1839 he was an honored and useful member of the United States Senate. He seldom engaged in the 
debates of that body, but on no occasion, says Prof. Goddard, did he address the Senate without 
leaving on the minds of all who heard him a decided impression of his high intellectual powers 
and accomplishments, of his ability as a statesman, and his acquisitions as a scholar. He died at 
Newport, in 1845, having lived, " by reason of his strength," fourscore years and more. 

Mr. Robbins was the first librarian of Rhode Island College, after the war, as we learn from a 
letter respecting its early history in which he thus writes : "At the reorganization of the College, in 
the autumn of 1782, 1 was appointed to the office of tutor, and took charge of the library as libra- 
rian. It was then kept in the east chamber, on the second floor, of the central building." A good 
likeness of Mr. Robbins is amongthe collection of portraits in Sayles Memorial Hall. 

1 The following is an extract from the minutes of this meeting of the Warren Association, held at 
Middleborough, Mass., Sept. 7, 8, 1784, of which meeting President Manning was moderator : — 

"Accounts were received from various parts of our country, that distress has lately been made 
upon a number of our brethren and friends for the support of a way of worship which we consci- 
entiously dissent from ; which is not only a violation of the law of God, but also directly against 
the fundamental principles of the late Revolution in America ; — therefore this Association is 
resolved to unite in the most prudent and vigorous measures for putting a stop to these oppressions 
and to maintain the just rights of our brethren and friends ; and for that end makes choice of the 
following Committee of Grievances, to set in this cause according to their best discretion; and we 
will recommend it to our several societies to communicate their proportion of the necessary expense 
hereof. The committee chosen for this purpose are our beloved Elders Stillman, Skillman, Smith, 
of Haverhill, Backus, and Blood." 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 381 

have now sent had they been printed. Probably Mr. Stillman may obtain and enclose 
them before Capt. Scott sails. Last Lord's Day our church received in two persons. I 
had not been called on to administer baptism before in near two years. Others appear 
under serious impressions. May the Lord graciously revive his work. I forgot to men- 
tion that the Hon. Joseph Brown, a member of the Corporation, a philosophical genius, 
was at our last meeting chosen Professor of Experimental Philosophy in this College ; 
and Dr. Benjamin "Waterhouse, M. D., of Leyden, was chosen Professor of Natural 
History, — both of whom engaged to give lectures in their respective branches, without 
any expense to the College while destitute of an endowment. 

I fear I have wearied your patience, and therefore, with every sentiment of esteem, 

rest, dear sir, 

Your unworthy brother and fellow-laborer in the gospel, 

James Manning. 

P. S. — The enclosed packet I beg you to forward to Mr. Evans, free of expense, if 
you can conveniently, besides a letter to him containing a catalogue of the books in the 
College library. He has encouraged us to hope for those duplicates which they have 
by a late donation, and of which we are destitute. 

President Manning's reply to a letter from the Rev. Thomas Ustick, 
to which reference is made in the foregoing, gives more in detail the 
persecutions of the Baptists under the oppressive laws of Massachusetts 
and Connecticut : — 

To THE Rev. Thomas Ustick, Philadelphia. 

Providence, Sept. 17, 1784. 
Betebend Sir: 

Yours of July 11th ult. came to hand ; but having no good opportunity of sending an 
answer, and being much engaged otherwise, I omitted an answer until now. I am 
glad your long suit has determined in favor of the church. I hope God will dispose 
you to make a proper improvement of so distinguished a favor, and the people be dis- 
posed to employ their property to his glory. I have communicated the contents of 
your letter, agreeably to your request. Last week I attended the Association at Eider 
Hinds's, Middleborough. Had an agreaable meeting, but find the Congregationalists 
in Cambridge, Brookfield, Woodstock in Connecticut, with some other places, have 
made distress on the Baptists this last summer. Some went to jail ; from others they 
took their stock, land, etc. This does not look much like liberty. The Association 
recommended the i^aying not the least attention to their ecclesiastical laws, and 
resolved that they were determined to maintain their claims of equal liberty, etc., and 



382 BEOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. XI. 

would recommend to the churches to support the sufferers. I am surprised that they 
are not ashamed to hold up their heads, in this enlightened age, in such a shameful 
cause. But perhaps God means it for good. 

"We had several ministering brethren from New Hampshire and the northern parts 
of Massachusetts, who refreshed us much with good tidings from that quarter. Many- 
have there been turned to the Lord, and the good work still goes on. The subjects of it 
generally adopt believer's baptism. There are great calls for gospel ministers in that 
quarter. I think the aspect of things is more favorable in our churches, public worship 
better attended, the ministry better supported, and some appearance of a revival of 
God's work. Even poor Providence seems to share a little. I baptized one young man 
last Lord's Day, and some more are under serious impressions. Mr. Ingalls preaches 
at Grafton. He told me the other day the people retained a great affection for you, and 
recently wished to hear from you. I think the College is in a growing state. I expect 
our number will exceed thirty at the close of vacation. At the last Corporation meet- 
ing the Faculty conferred the degree of LL. D. on Governor Hopkins, our chancellor, 
and of A. M. on Mr. John Bippon, Dr. Gill's successor. Mr. Joseph Brown was chosen 
Professor of Experimental Philosophy, and Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, Professor of 
Natural History. They have both engaged to lecture without salary from the College 
until there shall be proper endowments for those chairs. Miss Joey, daughter of Nich- 
olas Brown, is in a decline. I believe the rest of your friends are well as usual. With 
sentiments of esteem and respect to Mrs. Ustick and friends, 

I am, etc., 

James Manning. 

The Rev. Elhanan Winchester, to whom reference is made in the 
preceding correspondence, had been a Baptist clergyman of great 
repute in New England. He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, 
on the 30th of September, 1751. At the age of nineteen he became 
pious, and united with the church in his native town. Soon after- 
wards he commenced the public work of the ministry. Subsequently, 
experiencing a change in some of his views of religion, he visited 
Canterbury, Connecticut, where he was baptized by Elder Ebenezer 
Lyon, and received as a member of the Baptist church. In the spring 
of 1771 he removed to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, where he remained 
one year. He afterwards preached in various parts of New England 
and South Carolina. His extraordinary memory, his eloquence, and 
apparent zeal, excited great interest, and multitudes flocked to hear 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 383 

him. Unusual success attended his ministry, and his name became 
celebrated in all the churches. In the year 1781 he removed to Phila- 
delphia, where he advocated the doctrine of universal restoration, and 
was excluded in consequence from the fellowship of the Baptist denom- 
ination.^ He preached for several years to his adherents in Philadel- 
phia, among whom his biographer includes the celebrated Dr. Ben- 
jamin Rush, and Dr. John Redman, first President of the College of 
Physicians in Philadelphia. In 1787 he removed to London. He pub- 



1 An account of this affair may be found in a little pamphlet entitled "An Address from the 
Baptist Church in Philadelphia, to their Sister Churches of the same Denomination, throughout 
the Confederate States of North America. Drawn up by a Committee of the Church appointed 
for said purpose," 18mo. Philadelphia: Printed by Robert Aitken, 1781, pp. 16. A few extracts 
from this rare pamphlet may fitly appear in this connection : — 

"In the beginning of October, 1780, Mr. Elhanan Winchester, a native of Massachusetts Bay, 
New England, came as a messenger from the Warren Association to ours, which was then nigh at 
hand. Many of the members having, previous to this, repeatedly heard him preach, not the least 
suspicion existed but that he continued an advocate for that faith which we look upon as the 
faith once delivered to the saints. Accordingly, at a meeting for business the 9th of said month, it 
was agreed to use our best endeavors to prevail on him to stay, and preach for us a limited time. 
In two or three days after this, the Rev. Oliver Hart arrived in town from South Carolina ; we were, 
therefore, from many considerations, prevented doing anything decisive, until the 23d, when, at an 
assembly both of the church and congregation, it was, by the majority then present, deemed most 
consistent with the resolution of the 9th (a deviation therefrom carrying with it an appearance of 
injustice) to give Mr. Winchester an invitation to tarry with us during the space of one year. 
Being waited upon, and made acquainted with the circumstances attending the choice, he 
answered, ' That he was sorry we were not entirely unanimous therein ; but, nevertheless, con- 
sented to supply our pulpit for six months, at least, and longer if everything should prove agree- 
able.' 

"Popular applause, the idol which too many worship, was soon discovered to be an object zeal- 
ously sought for and courted by Mr. Winchester. To accomplish this, i^ersoas were every week 
hastily admitted to baptism, upon the slightest examination ; though we really believe that among 
the number are several sincere Christians, who, during this season of trial, have not been ashamed 
openly to denounce his errors. Various innovations, contrary to our established discipline, were 
introduced through his means. The church undertook a reform. In some respects success 
attended us ; in others, an obstinate adherence marked his character. 

"The principal foundation of the greatest uneasiness we shall now proceed to consider. Early 
in the winter it was whispered to a few, that Mr. Winchester, notwithstanding his artful endeavors 
to conceal the same in his public discourses, held the doctrine of a final restoration of bad men 
and angels from hell ; that the whole of Adam's progeny ; yea, the devils themselves, at certain 
different periods, would be delivered from their torment, and made completely happy; in other 
words, that he peremptorily denied the endless duration or perpetuity of future punishment. The 
method taken by him, at first, to propagate this wicked tenet, was by ' creeping into houses, and 
leading captive persons of weak capacities,' wherein he met with too much encouragement. 
Alarmed at this authenticated report, he was at different times privately conversed with on the 
subject by several of the members. He did not presume to contradict it fully, and yet his confes- 
sion was by no means satisfactory. Upon these occasions he would frequently intimate his inten- 



384 BROWN UNIVERSITY ' Chap. XI. 

lished many religious and controversial works, the most important of 
which are, Dialogues on Universal Restoration ; Lectures on the 
Prophecies, 2 vols., 8vo. ; Letters on the Divinity of Christ ; Defence 
of Revelation ; Oration on the Discovery of America, with an Appen- 
dix ; Reigning Abominations ; various sermons, etc. Mr. Winchester 
died on the 18th of April, 1797, aged forty-six years. He appears to 
have been a man of sincere piety, notwithstanding the change in his 
theological opinions. His biography, by the Rev. Edwin M. Stone, of 
Providence, was published by Brewster, of Boston, in 1836. The book, 
which contains an excellent portrait of Winchester, is now extremely 
rare. 

The following letter, now for the first time published, gives inter- 
esting information respecting the College and the times : — 



tion of going away, provided the smallest division took place on his account ; while at the same 
juncture, as opportunity served, he failed not to use arguments in order to gain proselytes." 

The result of all this, the Address goes on to add, was the introduction of the whole matter at a 
church meeting held on the 5th of March, 1781. Much debating ensued; the members became 
divided into two distinct parties, and iinally a protest against the doctrine of universal restoration, 
as a dangeroiis heresy, was signed by sixty-seven of the most substantial and influential members 
of the church. This number was afterwards increased to eightj'-six. Upon a motion made to wait 
on Mr. Winchester, and inform him that he could not, with propriety, be allowed to preach for 
them any longer, the protestors found themselves in a small minority, Mr. Winchester's adherents, 
including many of the "sisters" and younger members of the church, "being rather the most 
numerous." The church at this time numbered about one hundred and seventy. The protestors, 
however, conscious of having truth and justice on their side, viewed themselves as fully authorized 
to act independently of the new party. They accordingly appointed a committee of two to wait on 
Mr. Winchester at his lodgings. This committee, failing to find him at home, addressed him a 
letter, which he returned at once, unopened. On Thursday evening, March the 8th, his friends 
broke into the meeting-house, and took forcible possession thereof, Mr. AVinchester preaching 
notwithstanding the confusion. On the ensuing Sabbath he administered the Lord's Supper. A 
council of ministers was now called, and committees representing the two parties were appointed 
to meet them, with a view to an amicable adjustment of the difficulties. Failing in this, the 
members of the New Party, so called, were, by advice of the council, formally excluded from the 
church. Subsequently Mr. Winchester was, by the action of the Philadelphia and Warren Asso- 
ciations, formally excluded from the fellowship of the Baptist denomination. 

The Address, of which we have given the substance, was dated May 14, 1781, and signed by 
Samuel Miles, William Rogers, Thomas Shields, and John M'Kim. The suit for the possession of 
the house and property was, as we have already seen, finally decided in favor of the protestors, as 
they were then called. We have devoted more space than could be well spared to this matter, 
because of its importance, and also because it is frequently alluded to in Manning's correspond- 
ence. Indeed, Manning was himself prominent in the affair. Mr. Ustick, Winchester's immediate 
successor, was received by the church on his recommendation ; and he was a member of a commit- 
tee appointed by the Philadelphia Association, in 1781, to investigate and report to said body the 
proceedings of the church in reference to Winchester and his doctrines. 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 385 

To THE Eev. Hezekiah Smith. 

Providence, March 18, 1784. 
Dear Sir : 

Yours of the 25th iilt. came to hand last evening. I heard that yon had heen 
threatened with a fever, and am happy in finding that you are restored again to health. 
"We have been led through the gloomy path of affliction since I saw you. Mrs. Man- 
ning has been confined ever since the 14th of September last. For two or three of the 
first months I was very doubtful of her ever going abroad again. Some part of that 
time she seemed very near her end ; but the Lord has had mercy on her, and on me also 
in so far restoring her, that she may venture abroad again when the weather becomes 
fine. Her disorders were highly bilious and very complicated. I am sorry to hear of 
the low state of religion with you. But you cannot draw a more dismal picture of it, 
than will answer to the life here, and I think you cannot well be borne down w'ith 
greater discouragement than I constantly feel. Public worship here is most shame- 
fully neglected. The College gradually increases. It consists of thirteen members, 
and several more are expected this spring. A catalogue of the books, which are to 
compose our new Library, is made out with great care and attention. It has cost me a 
great deal of care and labor through the winter, and we are now busy in collecting the 
books subscribed for here, in order to leave them out of the catalogue which Mr. John 
Brown is about to send to England this spring. The air pump, with its apparatus 
complete, is arrived. It cost fifty pounds sterling in London, and is perhaps the most 
complete in America, made on the new construction. Mr. Joseph Brown has not yet 
completed his list of the apparatus, for want of some information on that subject, 
which he has not yet been able to obtain. 

If Mr. "Wood means to enter the Sophomore Class next fall, I advise him to read 
with great attention, Cicero and the Greek Testament, and make himself master of the 
grammar of each language ; also to study with great attention Lowth's English Gram- 
mar, and Sterling's, or Turner's Rhetoric, as preparatory to "Ward's Oratory. — To read 
Horace, and Xenophon's Cyroi^redia, and accustom himself to compose in English. We 
use Guthrie's Geography, and "Watt's, or Duncan's Logic ; — But we do not commonly 
study these before the second year, as we wish to have their knowledge in the lan- 
guages well advanced the first year. Should the class advance faster, I Avill let you 
know. I think a further attention at present to mathematical studies may not be 
advantageous. Board in Commons is down to seven shillings and sixpence per week, 
and I expect it will soon be lowered, perhaps the next quarter, to six shillings and 
ninepence. Tuition is twenty-four shillings per quarter, room rent six shillings. 

"We have had no account from the Jerseys since last December. All was well then. 
Our river is again opened, and the packets sailed for New York, so that I expect soon 
49 



386 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XL 

to hear from that quarter. Mr. Gano removed into the city towards the last of Decem- 
ber. "We hear that the city has been greatly distressed for wood. It has sold as high as 
five dollars per cord. The people of Warren are building them a meeting house, and 
have applied to me to recommend to them a minister, who will also, at least for the 
present, undertake to teach a school. Perhaps Mr. Foster will be willing to pay them 
a visit, at least. Should you have an opportunity, I wish you to mention it to him. I 
am sorry your school has dwindled. But I wish you to persevere ; it may rise again. 
Mrs. Brown died in December last, happily resigned to death, and expressing her 
unshaken hope in the Redeemer. I have conversed with few people in my life, who 
gave a more satisfactory evidence that they have slept in Jesus, than she. Mr. Brown 
has abundant satisfaction, as well as the rest of her friends. It has been a time of 
mortality with consumption this winter, in the town. Seven of my people, and some 
valuable friends have fallen thereby, whose loss I most sensibly feel. In the winter 
past, in consequence of some hints from Mr. Howell, the Corporation chose him to go 
to Europe this spring, and forwarded letters, etc., to him, to request him to get his 
business at Congress in such a train, as to comply with the request. Last week we had 
his answer, that he could not go on the footing of our resolution, which was to bear his 
aiecessary expenses, and give him 7^ per cent, out of the proceeds of the money col- 
lected. Mr. Rogers is chosen to solicit to the Southward, and Mr. Vanhorn in the 
Middle States, at 10 per cent., and they complimented me with the New England States 
on the same terms. The Address, etc., executed to the King of France in the best 
manner, were also sent forward. And I wrote long soliciting letters to Drs. Stennett 
and Llewelyn, who have expressed concern to know the state of the College, the former 
in a letter to me by Mr. Mullett, an English merchant whom he recommended to me. 
I wrote many other letters to such as I thought were likely to patronize the College. 
From some of these I have reason to expect some fruit. But time must determine. In 
short it has been a busy winter with me in the interests of the College. 

I should be happy to visit Haverhill this spring, but I believe I must go to the 
westward, as the state of my affairs calls loudly on me to do so. My stay, however, 
must be very short. I find business of one kind or another to engage all my time and 
attention, and I think the more so as I grow older. I hope I shall be ready and willing 
to quit this busy scene, when God shall call me hence. Mr. Howell is here, and desires 
to join with Mrs. Manning and myself and friends with best regards to you and yours, 
and all friends in Haverhill. 

With sentiments of esteem, I am, etc., 

James Manning. 

From the following letter it appears that the College at this time, 
notwithstanding the financial embarrassments of the people in conse- 



1784-1785. AND MANNINC;. 387 

quence of the war, promised better than at any former period of its 
existence : — 

To THE Rev. Hezekiah Smith. 

Providence, July 3, 1784. 
Dear Sir: 

By some means I mislaid your last to me in which you mention some huddings of 
a spiritual nature amongst you. I rejoice to hear it. Hope it may gloriously increase. 
I returned the 27th ult. Mrs. Manning sailed that day sennight to enjoy her last inter- 
view with her dear mamma, just about to leave us by a consumption, and very desirous 
of seeing her. She arrived at New York last Tuesday. Your friends, as far as I could 
hear, are in usual health. The Plains are destitute of a minister. They intend to try 
for Sammy Jones. Mr. Runyon is settled at Piscataway, where are some appearances of 
a revival. The general meeting was crowded, ten or eleven ministers present, and 
amongst them Mr. Hart, who, I think, will settle at Hopewell. Cranberry is visited 
with a revival, as are some other places in some small degree, especially under themin- 
istrj"^ of Mr. Wilson, of Bordentown. Mr. Gano's meeting-house is completely repaired 
and his congregation very full. Things look rather promising in New York, though the 
people are poor after their exile. I never enjoyed more freedom in preaching in any 
journey in my life, nor was I ever more attended to. The College consists of twenty- 
three students, nine being added since the vacation. More than a dozen are expected 
to enter in the fall. We have a number of promising youth, and amongst them is my 
nephew Jimmy, son of Jeremiah. Mr. Wilkinson Ms a good master. The school is 



' William Wilkinson, who was graduated in 1783. He immediately took charge of the College Latin 
school, which charge he retained until 1792. He was eminently successful as a teacher, and fitted for 
College many of its distinguished alumni. In 17«5 he was appointed librarian of the College. As the 
history of the Latin school forms a part of our College history, we may be pardoned for introducing 
here an advertisement from the Providence Gazette, by which it appears that the connection which 
had existed between the school and the College was for a time dissolved : — 

" William Wilkinson informs the public, that, by the advice of the school committee, he proposes 
removing his school from the College edifice, on Monday next, to the brick school-house ; and, sen- 
sible of the many advantages resulting from a proper method of instruction in the English language, 
he has, by the committee's approbation, associated -with him Mr. Asa Learned, as an English 
instructor. Those gentlemen and ladies who may wish to employ them in the several branches of 
the Greek, Latin, and English languages taught grammatically, arithmetic, and writing, may depend 
on the utmost attention being paid to their chikken. Greek and Latin at twenty-four shillings per 
quarter; English at sixteen shillings. 

Wilkinson and Learned. 
Providence, Oct. 20, 1786." 

In tracing further the history of this Latin or grammar school, we find in the records of the Cor- 
poration, under date of Sept. 4, 1794, the following: " Voted, That the President use his influence and 
endeavor to establish a gi-ammar school in this town, as an appendage to this College, to be under 



388 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XL 

nearly up to twenty, All the rooms in the two lower stories are now full, and we must 
go directly to finishing the two upper ones, at least the third,, if we can possibly devise 
ways and means ; which I expect will be very difficult. I think the advice you gave Mr. 
"Wood was right, and he will doubtless fare as well on the subject of advancement with 
us as at Jersey College. The Institution promises better now than at any period of its 
existence. Had we about one or two thousand pounds more to provide for a suitable 
tuition, I should rejoice. Secure of your interest in sending us scholars, I shall say 
nothing ou that head, but as the bearer, Capt. Thivell, is waiting, must conclude with 
best wishes to you, lady, and all friends. 

Yours, as ever, 

James Manning. 

P. S. — Miss Joey Brown, daughter of Nicholas, is fast declining. Her disorder is 
thought to be the consumption. 

President Manning now begins a correspondence with the Rev. Dr. 
Caleb Evans, President of the Baptist academy in Bristol. His father 
was the Rev. Hugh Evans, one of the most distinguished Baptist minis- 
ters of his da}-. Dr. Evans proved to be a warm friend of the College, 
and was the means of securing valuable books for the Library. He died 
on the 9th of August, 1791, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. He pub- 
lished a collection of hymns, and numerous sermons and addresses, the 
greater part of which are to be found in the Library. " Our Baptist 
College in America," says Dr. Rippon, " was proud to confer on him her 
highest honors, in which she was followed by the principal and profes- 
sors of the King's College, Aberdeen, in the year 1T89." 

Providence, Sept. 13, 1784. 
Reverend Sir: 

I have long wished for a favorable opportunity of introducing myself to you, and 
am happy that one has at length offered, by answering your request in a late letter to 
my friend and brother. Rev. Samuel Stillman, of Boston. Enclosed is the catalogue 
of all the books now belonging to the College. Nearly one-half of them have their 



the immediate visitation of the President, and the general inspection of the town's school commit- 
tee, and that the President also procure a suitable master for such school." This resolution was 
doubtless carried into effect. Fifteen years afterwards, as we have already stated in a previous 
chapter, the Corporation erected a brick building for the accommodation of the school, at an 
expense of fifteen hundred dollars. This building, which has since been enlarged, is the one now 
occupied as the " University Grammar School." 




Caleb Evans. 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 389 

bindings much broken, as they were okl when presented. Besides the enclosed we 
have ordered out from Loudon this fall about fourteen hundred volumes, a catalogue 
of which we sent to Dr. Stennett, requesting his advice to the merchants, Messrs. 
Champion and Dickinson, in the purchase of them, hoping that he may point out 
where they can be had second-hand, etc. Of this you may obtain a sight by applying 
to the Doctor. Together with that we sent a catalogue of books which we are not able 
to purchase, but which we should be glad to receive by way of donation, should any of 
our friends be so disposed. "Were I not oppressed with cares, and at present destitute 
of assistance, I would send them to you also. If, however, I can make out a copy 
of these catalogues before the ship sails, they shall accompany this. The above- 
mentioned fourteen hundred volumes are a donation from our treasurer, John Brown, 
Esq., of Providence. The amount of two hundred pounds sterling was also ordered 
to be expended in the purchase of a necessary philosophical apparatus, in addition to 
what we already have, consisting chiefly of a telescope, an air-pump and its apparatus, 
globes, and a thermometer. The money for this order was subscribed by other mem- 
bers of the Corporation last fall. A list of these articles was also forwarded to Dr. 
Stennett. 

Your kind attention to the interests of the College, and the proffer of your services, 
were sensibly felt by the Corporation at their annual meeting this present month ; and 
it is in obedience to their commands, imjiosed by the following vote, that I now write : 
"Voted, That the Rev. Messrs. President Manning and Samuel Stillman be a committee 
to write to the Rev. Hugh Evans, of Bristol, and other gentlemen in England, and 
enclose the catalogue of books belonging to the College, and endeavor to procure such 
donations in books, apparatus, and money as may be obtained from thence ; and also 
consult Dr. Stennett on the expediency of sending a person to England to solicit dona- 
tions for the College." 

At the commencement of the war the College was in a growing state. The number 
of students was about forty, and there was a good Latin school in the edifice. In 1776 
it was delivered up, or rather taken possession of, by the troops as a barrack and hos- 
pital, and continued to be occupied by the militia. Continental and French troops, and 
seamen, until June, 1782. During this period the house sustained great damages, for 
which we have received no compensation yet, nor have we much prospect of it in 
future. This has thrown a heavy burden on the Corporation, and greatly embarrassed 
them in making the necessary repairs, especially as our fund is small. This we have 
made many efforts to augment by collections, etc., in this country, but to so little pur- 
pose that our whole fund produces but about sixty pounds sterling per annum. The 
distressed and exhausted state of the country by war, leaves us little room soon to hope 
for much from this quarter, especially as money is become so scarce that our people in 
the country, although possessed of property, cannot command suificient to pay their 



390 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XL 

taxes. We are unwilling, however, to relinquish our design, as it is evident that the 
Institution has already greatly contributed to the perpetuity of our denomination, and 
hegins again to attract public attention. The number of students already in College, 
and of those we expect in the course of the fall, is upwards of thirty. In teaching I 
have the assistance of one Tutor. A small Latin school is kept up in the College. Any 
services you can render in endowing it will be most acceptable to the Corporation. 

Last week I attended our Association at Middleborough, and though several of the 
remote churches did not send messengers, a great number of Christian friends met and 
enjoyed a harmonious and agreeable interview. Were the minutes printed I would 
enclose them. In several places there is a happy revival of religion, especially in the 
eastern parts of Massachusetts, and I am not without encouragement under my 
poor ministry. The doctrine of religious, as well as civil liberty, is in general better 
understood in New England than before the Revolution, notwithstanding in places the 
persons and property of several of our friends have been seized on for ministerial rates. 
I think it not improbable that the rapid increase of our society will provoke some of 
our neighbors to give us much trouble ; but it affords encouragement that the whole 
body are determined to maintain their rights and support the burden which may first 
fall upon individuals. Possibly the knowledge of this resolution entered into at our 
last annual meeting may deter our oppressors. If not, may the great Head of the 
church furnish us with grace to suffer like Christians. 

I have often heard of your Education Society, and of its great utility in training up 
young men for the ministry. My highly respected friend and your brother-in-law, 
Thomas Mullett, Esq., gave me the best account of it which I have yet received; still, 
if it be not too troublesome I should be glad to receive further information respecting 
it, and I will engage to repay it in any information you may wish for in my power to 
■give. 

In a letter to Dr. Stennett, last fall, I gave a pretty full account of the state of relig- 
ion and some other matters in this new world ; it was in answer to his request in a let- 
ter by Mr. Mullett. If this letter reached him, it is not improbable that you have seen 
it, as I requested him to communicate the contents to those of our friends who might 
wish to hear from us. On the opening again of the communication between both coun- 
tries, it was pleasing to find our brethren in England, at least a great number of them, 
so much interested in our welfare. How strong a proof this of the reality of that 
Christian love and unity in the spirit which is the genuine fruit of a gracious prin- 
ciple ! The same temper is manifested here towards our brethren in England. There 
is the same joy expressed on hearing that Christ's kingdom is advancing with you 
which appeared before the war. And why should it not be so, since his kingdom is but 
one? Dependence or independence therefore should make no difference amongst his 
subjects, who consist of the elect out of different people, nations, and languages. The 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 391 

privilege of a correspondence with Mr. Evans I shall highly prize, if not too trouble- 
some to him ; and he may depend on punctuality on the part of his unworthy friend 

and brother, 

James Manning. 

To this letter Dr. Evans replies : — 

Bristol, England, Jan. 26, 1785. 
Dear Sir: 

As the extensive connections in which my brother is engaged on your wide-extended 
continent render it advisable for him once more to traverse the mighty waters, and to 
pay a visit to his American friends, in which number you hold a distinguished place, 
I gladly embrace the opportunity of accepting your correspondence, and rei^lying to 
your favor of the 13th of September last, which I received in due course in November. 
I shall be truly happy to do anything in my power to promote the prosperity of the 
infant College over which you so worthily preside, and shall omit no opportunity that 
offers of testifying my regards to it. Charity, you know, the old proverb says, should 
begin at home, but I think it should not end there, but flow on without control to the 
utmost limits of possibility. I had so little time with Dr. Stennett when I was in Lon- 
don that we had no opportunity of entering upon the affairs of your College as I wished 
to have done, nor could I have a sight of the catalogue of the books lately j)urchased. 
I shall nevertheless pursue the design of obtaining for you such of our duplicates as 
may be worthy your acceptance, without strictly adhering to what you already have, 
because you may easily exchange, as you observe, such as may prove superfluous. But 
this cannot be accomplished till August next, as our Society will have no meeting till 
that time. As to a person's coming over here to solicit benefactions, I rather fear it 
would not at present be advisable ; but should Dr. Stennett think otherwise, and a 
proper person should come, especially if it were either yourself or Dr. Stillman, I 
would readily use my utmost efforts to promote his success. Our friends in general 
are well enough affected to America, but many of them have very little idea of the 
utility of academical institutions, though it is evident the prejudices are wearing 
away. I am sorry to see, as well by the account Mr. MuUett gives me as by your letter, 
that religion is at so low an ebb amongst you, though I doubt not the time will come 
when it will again run and be glorified. There have been on your continent, in years 
past, many enemies against revivals, and your set time to favor Zion will, I doubt not, 
yet come again. Your church is, however, I hear, flourishing, as also Mr. Stillman's, 
and some others. Blessed be God, we have cause for thankfulness here. One of our 
churches in this city lately baptized twenty, and probably before this letter leaves this 
place I shall have the pleasure of receiving something more than an equal number to 



392 BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XL 

the solemn rite. And yet still we have much cause to complain of lukewarmness and 
formality. Dr. Stennett's Discourse on Domestic Duties you have probably seen, and 
probably Mr. Booth's treatise on Baptism, the most elaborate and decisive performance 
upon that subject that has ever yet been published, or probably ever will be. I enclose 
you one of our last Associational letters, and a sermon lately published by one of our 
ministers on Walking by Faith, which I beg your acceptance of, as also a fifth volume 
of Saurin to complete the set which Mr. Mullett tells me he presented to your College, 
and which he had of me for his own use on the voyage Amongst the books you may 
expect in the fall are the Polyglott General Dictionary, 10 vols., including Bayle's 
Biographical Dictionary, and many others equally valuable. I shall wish your direction 
how to send them. I will, my dear sir, detain you no longer than to express my 
warmest wishes for the increasing prosperity of the church and College over which you 
preside, the revival of the interests of literature and true religion through the Anierican 
continent and the whole world, and recommend my brother to your continued friend- 
ship. I remain, 

Yours affectionately, in the endearing bonds of gospel love, 

Caleb Evans. 

In his correspondence with Evans, Dr. Manning, it will be observed, 
speaks of being "oppressed with cares." The number and variety of 
his cares may be inferred from the following amusing extract from a 
letter written by Dr. Waterhouse, which we find quoted in the memoir 
by Professor Goddard : "I never shall forget what Dr. Manning, in 
great good humor, told me were among his ' trying experiences.' He 
told me that his salary was only eighty pounds per annum, and that for 
this pittance he performed all the duties of President of the College ; 
heard two classes recite every day ; listened to complaints, foreign and 
domestic, from undergraduates and their parents, of both sexes, and 
answered them, now and then by letter ; waited generally on all tran- 
sient visitors into College, etc. Nor was this all. 'I made,' said Dr. 
Manning, ' my own garden, and took care of it ; repaired my dilapi- 
dated walls ; went nearly every day to market ; preached twice a week, 
and sometimes oftener ; attended, by solicitation, the funeral of every 
baby that died in Providence ; visited the sick of my own society, and 
not unfrequently the sick of other societies ; made numerous parochial 
visits, the poorest people exacting the longest, and, in case of any seem- 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 393 

ing neglect, finding fault the most.' " Amid all these perplexing cares, 
which allowed him but scanty time for premeditating his sermons, we 
have the testimony of Dr. Waterhouse for adding that " the honorable 
and worthy man never complained." 

Key. Abraham Booth to Manning. 

London, June 30, 1784. 
Dear Sir: 

It is with pleasure that I reflect on a restoration of intercourse between Great 
Britain and America, after so long an interruption by so destructive a war. May a 
kind Providence yet render the two countries mutually useful to each other. Having 
a favorable opportunity, I here present you with a publication. Shall be glad to hear 
of their obtaining your apjirobation. 

You will much oblige me by transmitting the enclosed parcel to Mr. Stillman ; and 
you will increase the obligation by favoring me with a few lines your first opportunity. 

Taking it for granted that Dr. Stennett will give you some account of the state of 
religion amongst us in the country, I have nothing to add but my ardent prayers that 
a kind Providence may bless your confederated provinces with peace and prosperity, 
and that the great Head of the church may cause pure and undefiled religion to flourish 
in all your academies, your churches, and through all your extensive country. I con- 
clude, and remain, 

Your cordial friend and unworthy brother, 

A. Booth. 

P. S. — Mr. Benjamin Wallin died upwards of two years ago. 

To the above Manning replies : — 

Providence, Oct. 3, 17&4. 
Dear Sir: 

On my return from New York, four days ago, I was so happy as to find a line from 
Mr. A. Booth, accomiianied with the publications mentioned. My present hurry has 
permitted me to examine but little more than the titlepages, but from my predilection 
for the author of the E-eign of Grace, I am persuaded any publication of his will be 
highly acceptable. My next shall inform you of my opinion of the publications on 
perusal. In the mean time I beg you to accept my hearty thanks for the donation. By 
the ship Hope, belonging to this town, and by the bearer. Dr. Solomon Drowne, who 
goes as a passenger in her, I embrace the opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of 
yours. Mr. Drowne is a son of the College, a gentleman of remarkable modesty, who, 
50 



394 BROWN" UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

having passed through the best medical schools in this country, now visits Europe 
with views of further improvement in the line of his profession. He is a member of 
the Corporation, and of iinblemished character, on whose information you may safely 
rely respecting the College, or any other matters. As such I beg leave to introduce 
him to your notice, and refer you to him for particulars. 

The restoration of public tranquillity and a free intercourse between the two coun- 
tries, after so long an interruption, is matter of thanksgiving to God. Few, perhaps, in 
either country, more sincerely regretted this interruption than your unworthy friend ; 
to which no consideration could ever reconcile him except that of making a part of the 
plan of His administration who is infinite in wisdom. Conciliatory measures, I doubt 
not, will render both countries reciprocally useful. 

I have transmitted the letter and parcel to Mr. Stillman by a safe hand. I have not 
yet been so happy as to receive a line from Dr. Stennett, which I am daily expecting, 
with the wished-for information. Enclosed I send you a copy of our last Association 
minutes. This will give you a general view of the state of a number of our churches. 
Since that time I have received authentic accounts of a most glorious work of God, in 
what is called the State of Vermont, formerly the Hampshire grants, on the west side of 
Connecticut River. It extends over well-nigh half the peopled part of that territory, 
and appears increasing. The eastern part of Massachusetts continues still to be remark- 
ably visited in the same way, and the prospect brightens at New York and in many 
parts of the "Western States. Some drops have also fallen on Providence, Newport, 
and Swansea, with several other places. My attention, however, is so much called for 
at the College, that I cannot visit, as I wish to, and rejoice together with them. A long 
letter to Dr. Stennett, last fall, which you have probably seen, gave some general 
accounts of the state of religion amongst us since the commencement of the war. I 
shall not therefore repeat what I then wrote, — only observe that two of the leaders in 
what they called the New Dispensation, but others the Shaking Quakers, have, not- 
withstanding their boasted immortality, lately died; one of whom was, as they termed 
her, the elect lady. The adherents, I am told, to that fanatical system, are falling off 
and renouncing it. Their folly indeed has been abundantly manifest. It is the general 
opinion of serious people that these shakings presage something glorious to the church 
<Jf God. May the Lord grant an accomplishment of their wishes. 

The mournful news of Mr. Wallin's death reached us more than a year ago. When 
he died a truly great man in Israel fell ; but I doubt not it was his gain. 

Your ardent wishes for our national prosperity, but more especially for that of the 
churches of Christ in this new world, are peculiarly acceptable. Permit me to repay 
them by wishes as ardent for Great Britain and Ireland, those lands of our forefathers' 
nativity, and for the advancement of the glorious kingdom of our common Lord 
throughout the whole world. 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 395 

A line from Mr. Booth will always be very acceptable to his sincere friend and 
unworthy brother, 

James Manning. 

To THE Rev. John Ryland, Jr. 

Providence, Nov. 12, 1784. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

I beg leave to embrace this opportunity to confess my fault in not forwarding your 
diploma before now. By some unaccountable neglect it was mislaid till a few days 
since. 

You will forgive the execution, as the writing is but indifferent, nor could we at that 
time procure it done otherwise. It is, however, a small testimony of our regard for 
the merit of Mr. Ryland, and as such we beg you to accept it. 

The long and agreeable correspondence I was honored with by your father (to whom 
I have written since the war) leads me to wish for the continuance of it. But if his 
advanced age or engagements forbid it, I wish for it from his son, and, as I am told, 
successor in the school at Northampton. I heartily wish you success in the important 
employment of educating youth, and in preaching the gospel of our glorious Saviour. 

We have seen days of sorrow during the late calamitous war, but blessed be God 
that I have lived to see a period to it, and a free intercourse again opened between us 
and Great Britain. Some agreeable letters have already reached me from several 
friends in England, more of which I hope for soon ; also more particular accounts of 
the state of religion in general and your society in particular. I long to read some of 
those old-fashioned letters from Rev. John Ryland in this way. They will, however, 
be very acceptable from his son. 

The College is reviving. Thirty students have already entered, and more are 
expected. We have in part repaired the damages of the house, which were very great, 
by the wanton waste of the soldiery. I have the assistance of one Tutor. We need 
more help, but the low state of our funds will not support another, and the scarcity of 
cash at present in this country forbids our hopes of augmenting our little stock. We 
were so fortunate, in the wreck of public credit during the war, as to preserve our little 
fund undiminished. In the eastern part of Massachusetts and in the State of Vermont 
there is a most glorious work of God, which has continued for some time and still 
increases. Please to present my best regards to your honored father, and believe me, 
with every sentiment of esteem, dear sir. 

Your unworthy brother, 

James Manning. 



396 BROWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XI. 

To THE Key. Dk. Rippon. 

Providence, Nov. 12, 1784. 
Eeverend and Dear Sir: 

This will be handed you by my friend, Dr. Solomon Drowne, of Providence, a son of 
the College, a gentleman of great modesty, who visits your city with views of further 
medical improvement. I beg leave to recommend him to you as a man of good charac- 
ter, and a Fellow of the College. Through him you may receive what information you 
wish respecting the College, etc. Together with this you will receive the diploma I men- 
tioned in my last. We beg you to accept it as a testimony of our respect for the charac- 
ter and merit of Mr. Rippon. I must apologize for the writing. It was done in a hurry 
and by a young hand. 

The Lord's work still goes on gloriously in the eastern parts of Massachusetts and 
Vermont. By recent advice from these parts we are assured that whole congregations, 
almost, of Congregationalists, embrace the Baptist principles; and in one instance their 
minister was baptized with his people. Several useful ministers are raised up amongst 
them lately in that wilderness. This looks somewhat like the coming of our Redeemer's 
kingdom. With me you say amen ! Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. In great haste, 
I am, dear sir, 

Your unworthy brother and fellow-believer in Jesus, 

James Manning. 

We have already referred to Dr. Drowne in a previous chapter as a 
graduate in 1773. Upon his return from Europe, he practised medicine 
in Providence for awhile, then removed to Ohio, thence to Pennsylva- 
nia, and finally settled in the town of Foster, Rhode Island, where he 
passed the remainder of his days in professional and agricultural pur- 
suits, and in the cultivation of his taste for botany and for elegant 
letters. He died in 1834, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. 

Providence, Dec. 23, 1784. 
To THE Honorable David Howell, 

Member of Congress in Philadelphia : 
Sir: — Before you receive this, you will doubtless be advised of the melancholy situ- 
ation of our common friend, Mr. Joseph Brown, who, upwards of four weeks since, 
received a violent shock of an apoplexy and numb palsy combined, which for some time 
caused his physicians and friends to despair of his life. But though he is much recov- 
ered, as to the use of his limbs and his speech, it forbids, in a great measure, our indulg- 
ing a hope of his restoration to former usefulness. Joey, daughter of Nicholas Brown, 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 397 

still survives, but is in the last stage of her disorder. Mrs. Thurston, wife of the elder, 
died of the small pox last Friday. He and his family have it by inoculation, and are in 
a hopeful way to recover. I left Newport last Monday morning. Your family are in 
usual health, for aught I have heard to the contrary since my return. Mr. Wilkinson 
speaks favorably of Jeremiah's proficiency in, and attention to, Greek. 

I have nothing new to advise you respecting the College. Our number is above thirty. 
We have heard that you very soon adjourned to Philadelphia, after your meeting at 
Trenton. I suppose you find better living and more diversion in the city; to which, if 
members of Congress are not entitled, I beg leave to know who are? I hope you will be 
good natured, unanimous, and attentive to the public business, conducting it to the 
great honor and advantage of the United States. 

What think you of an application to Congress for the rents and damages of the 
College? Will it do this session or not? I fear it will become an old story, and that 
we, in the issue, will lose the whole, if we defer it longer. What we ask is not only 
just, but greatly wanted at present. I beg you to feel round amongst the members, and 
form a judgment of the probability of success in case of an application. Should things 
appear promising, I will forward the papers, and indeed will come myself, Deo volente, 
in the spring, if you think it can be of any iise. 

You remember I mentioned to you the case of our farm in the Jerseys, and our 
thoughts of selling it for public securities. What is your opinion? Will Congress, 
this session, provide for paying the interest on final-settlement notes equally with that 
of loan-office certificates, or not? From the face of things at present with you, is it 
your opinion that public securities will appreciate soon? If so, which species of them 
are the most likely to do so? If Congress takes up this subject, how long do you 
expect it will be first? I wish a resolution of these queries when your leisure will 
permit. Are you likely to open a land-office soon, to dispose of any of the Western 
territory? What concessions have the Indians made to the commissioners sent out to 
treat with them ? Will they sell any part of their lands to the States ? or do they 
oppose our extending our settlements? What will be the terms, if Congress opens an 
office, on which they will dispose of their lands? It is the ardent wish here that 
something may speedily be done with our new acquisitions towards raising our public 
credit, and alleviating the burdens of taxation, under which the people at present 
groan. And if the way is paved by the commissioners, I see no reason for losing time, 
as money daily grows scarcer. This must affect the price of them greatly, at a future 
distant period, unless some expedient can be hit on to replenish the States with that 
useful article. Will not Congress establish a mint for the Union? I think this measure 
would be attended with advantage. While we neglect it, do we not, apparently, betray 
a diffidence or distrust of the continuance of our independence? A national coin would 
serve to strengthen the sinews of government, in my opinion, and might be managed 



398 BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XI. 

so as to secure a medium in the country, I should think, which is certainly a great 
national object. But you will begin to smile at my scribbling politics, and I shall pro- 
voke your risibilities no further ; concluding by inquiring how you found friends 
in the Jerseys, requesting a line from you at your first leisure, and, joined with Mrs. 
Manning, presenting my best compliments. With sentiments of esteem, I am, respect- 
fully. 

Yours, etc., 

James Manning. 
To THE Rev. Thomas Ustick, Philadelphia. 

Providence, March 4, 1785. 
Eeverend and Dear Sir: 

Unwilling to saddle you with postage to the amount of three or four shillings, as I 
had no other medium of conveyance, I have now before me yours of December 24th, and 
January, to which I have given you no answer. I presume, from not mentioning in 
your last the indisposition of your family, that your children are recovered. This, at 
least, I hope, is the case. In addition to the procedure of the Pedobaptists, mentioned 
in my last, I now have to inform you that some time in this winter they took three of 
Mr. Thomas Green's people for minister's rates, and put them into Cambridge jail. 
You recollect that he lives in that town, Our friends have prosecuted them, and the 
trial comes on there the 9th inst. Perhaps a degree of this opposition to the truth of 
the gospel is necessary to engage a suitable att.ention to its importance. It is no argu- 
ment in favor of the disposition of those who make it, but it may be a means of great 
good to those against whom it is made. 

Some revivals in various parts of New England are encouraging amidst these trials. 
Providence in a small degree is blessed with some quickenings amongst Christians, 
and a few instances of late awakenings. I hope you may yet rejoice on this account 
in Pennsylvania. 

The state of the College is as promising as we could reasonably expect. Our num- 
ber is thirty-one, and more are expected to enter this spring, Mr. John Brown is about 
finishing the third story, which we expect to want in the course of this year, if those 
whom we expect should come. I believe our students are as orderly, industrious, and 
as good scholars as at any one period of the Institution. One Tutor is all the assistance 
which I have at present, Mr. Robbins, from Connecticut, who gives good satisfaction. 
Probably I shall be able to answer your request relative to Mr. Brown this spring 
before I visit the Jerseys, which I expect to do in May, without some unforseen cause 
should prevent it. The Corporation at that time had resolved on an application to 
Congress for reparation of the damage done the College during its appropriation to 
public uses through the war, and have resolved to send me on that errand. In this I 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 399 

shall want every assistance from the friends of the Institution, by letters to the men>- 
hers, etc. If your acquaintance with any of them will enable you to aid me, I know 
I am sure of that aid. 

Mr. Joseph Brown's indisposition is indeed a very heavy stroke to us. The College 
and the church particularly feel it. There is little probability of his ever being restored 
to his former usefulness, though he again goes a little abroad. I have attended to 
your request in respect to the minutes you enclosed. I am sorry to hear of the acrimony 
among you respecting the officers of government. I think it very imprudent in the 
Presbyterians, as well as injurious, to wish to engross these to themselves. But that 
profession has been of old impeached of a propensity this way, and, as St. Paul some- 
where says, I partly believe it. 

As I am thoroughly conscious of my want of qualifications for the honor you men- 
tion, so I do not wish it. It is perhaps, at best, but an empty sound, and rendered, in 
too many instances, still more so by the character of those on whom it has been 
bestowed, for a place in whose catalogue I have no ambition. I thank you, however, 
for your kind attention. You have my hearty thanks for your expressions of friendship 
to the College. You reason rightly with the Baptists respecting this matter, who, one 
would think, have sufficient proofs of the propriety of it, from the struggles amongst 
themselves. But we are, and ever have been, in these respects, a wrong-headed 
people. lam happy to have a better opinion of their hearts. I hope Mr. Rogers's lec- 
turing may be of use, and that you may both labor with great success, and, as father 
Alden says, " with good agreement." 

I am sensible that your attention to a school must greatly interfere with your dis- 
charge of the duty of a pastor, but I hope this may not be without its good effect to 
counterbalance that loss, since there appears to be a needs be for it. In your letter to 
Mr. Pitman you mentioned "Winchester, in possession of his fifth wife and a red coat. 
Please, in your next, to give us the particulars of that eccentric genius, his adherents, 
success, etc., etc. 

Mrs. Manning has been restored to her health for some time, except a cold, which at 
present incommodes her. Joey Brown died in the fore part of winter, — as ripe for 
heaven, by every evidence which could be wished for, as almost any i^erson I ever saw. 
Many have dropped off this winter in this town and Newport by chronic complaints, 
but at present good health is more prevalent. 

With best respects to Mrs. Ustick and friends, in which Mrs. Manning joins, and 

with sentiments of esteem, I am, as ever. 

Yours, etc., 

James Manning. 

It appears from this letter that Mr. Ustick, who was now the 
esteemed pastor of the First Baptist Church iu Philadelphia, had inter- 



400 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XL 

ested himself in obtaining for his beloved President and Instructor 
the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity, which he soon afterwards 
received from the University of Pennsylvania. The original parch- 
ment, which is in the writer's possession, is dated May 6, 1785. It is 
signed by "Johannes Ewing, S. T. D. Phil. Nat. Prof, et Praefectus, 
Samuel Magill, S. T. D. Phil. Mor. Prof, et Vice-Praefectus," and 
Professors James Davidson, Robert Patterson, Henry Helmuth, Wil- 
liam Shippen, Adam Kuhn, and Benjamin Rush. Dr. Rush is said to 
have been, before the war, one of the hearers of Dr. Rogers, — 
attracted, doubtless, by his eloquence. He was in College with Presi- 
dent Manning at Princeton two years, having been graduated in the 
class of 1760. The parchment, which is exceedingly interesting as an 
illustration of the way in which honorary degrees were conferred a 
century ago, thus commences : — " Quum Honos sit Virtutis prae- 
mium, ideoque apud omnes Academias usitatum sit, ut qui moribus, 
ingenio et optimarum Artium cognitione prae caeteris eminent, ii max- 
imis laudibus et summis honoribus afhciantur : Nos igitur Universi- 
tatis Pennsylvaniensis Praefectus, Vice-Praefectus et Professores hoc 
scripto testatum volumus, virum admodum Reverandum Jacobum 
Manning Ecclesiae quae est Providentiae in Nova Anglia Pastorem et 
Universtatis ejusdem loci Praesidem Sacrosanctae Theologiae Doctoris 
titulem," etc. President Manning, it will be observed in his letter to 
Mr. Ustick, refers to his ' ' want of qualifications ' ' for the honor, and 
adds : — "I do not wish it," etc. As it was conferred, in the language 
of Rev. Augustus Toplady, "like grace from heaven, unthought of, 
unimplored," he did not refuse it, and carefully preserved the parch- 
ment as a choice treasure. 

Providence, March 21, 1785. 
To THE Honorable David Howell, 

In Congress at New York: 

Sir : — And the snow three and four feet deep ! what do you think of that ? How do 

you think Mrs. Howell fares this inclement, protracted winter? — not to mention the 

cows, old Sorrel, etc., in regard to hay. But I beg pardon for calling your attention 

from that higher region where you are conversant, in settling the nation, to these sub- 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 401 

lunary things. To be serious, we have not only had a hard winter, but the spring thus 
far, is much of the same tenor. "We talk here of removing to the temperate climate of 
Kentucky to avoid this snow and frost, which throw us into a torpid state so great a 
part of the year. I saw your papa and family at meeting yesterday; all well. Your 
friends in general are well. I have enclosed Mr. Carter's paper of the 12th instant, 
containing the law made at the last session of the General Assembly in relation to the 
impost, in Mr. Van. Horn's letter, which I authorize you to open that you may see it, 
provided you have not yet received it. But I beg you to reendorse it and direct it to 
Mr. Van Horn, to be left at Mr. Ustick's. The College remains in statu quo idem, the 
church, congregation, politics of the town, etc., for aught I know. I thank you for the 
newspapers you sent me. I think the address to the York Assembly labored. Will it 
compass their ends ? It is diverting enough to hear Doctors Ewing and Rush endeavor- 
ing to expose each other for their latent zeal for the Kirk, and exhibiting to the world 
the naked truth. If, by their quarrel, an old proverb should be verified, it might afford 
matter of rejoicing to many. But they are members of the militant church, and so I 
leave them to box it out. I told you in my last that the Corporation had resolved to 
send me forward in the spring to Congress, as you desired. But as you did not give 
much encouragement of success from the aj^plication, I beg leave to inquire what you 
think of the probability of our procuring a grant of some part of the Western territory, 
instead of a grant of money, as I perceive, by your letter to Mr. Brown, you expect a 
land-office to be opened in the s^jring? This would not augment the public debt, and 
woiild in time be productive for the College. Rather than get nothing, I should be glad 
to accept of this. This, however, is only a thought of my own, and suggested for 
your consideration, on which I should be glad of your opinion, in your next, that I may 
take the sense of the Corporation on this subject before I set out. 

Pray, how go final-settlement notes and other continental securities in New York at 
present? You need not have been quite so short in your last, for I make a point of 
writing whenever I can find anything to say ; and would you wish, after reading this, 
to have me Avrite again and say nothing? If so, I can spill ink and spoil paper as fast 
as most of my neighbors. 

Pray, what is likely to be the result of the wranglings of the Dutch and the 
Emperor? Will there be a general war, and if so will it reach us? You stand on the 
watclitower, andean tell i^s, we presume, what may be depended on. Now there is a 
claim entered for a very long letter, by next post, by, sir, 

Your humble servant, 

James Manning. . 

.51 



402 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

To Thomas Mackaness, Esq., of London, to whom, it seems. Dr. 
Manning had shown kind attentions while a captive at Providence 
during the war, he thus writes : — 

Providence, July 10, 1785. 
Dear Sir: 

Yours of April 27, 1785, with the box of books, containing five volumes quarto of 
Witsius's Works, in Latin, came safe by the hand of Mr. Fry. When they arrived I 
was absent at New York, or I should have embraced an earlier opportunity of present- 
ing my thanks to Mr. Mackaness for the donation, and the kind attention which you 
have been pleased to pay to me. Your letter last winter, by your son-in-law, came safe 
to hand, but I had not the pleasure of seeing him. I took the earliest opportunity of 
forwarding you a letter, by the care of our common friend Deacon Mason, of Boston, in 
hopes it might have reached Mr. Harvey's hands before he sailed. I am sorry you did 
not receive it. A visit from you to your Providence friends was greatly wished for, 
and indeed expected. Messrs. Jos. Rogers and Geo. Benson are well. The former is 
mourning the loss of a dear and amiable wife. He feels that the hand of God has 
touched him. He could sympathize with you in calling to remembrance the tender 
and afilictive scenes through which you have passed. I am glad to find that you think, 
however stormy the path, that you have been led tTie right way towards the city of 
habitation. I sincerely wish your affliction may be sanctified, so as to work for you " a 
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." I hope you may be so happy as to 
settle your children to your mind ; but I should not think they had fixed upon the most 
agreeable place. Yet contentment and industry will, anywhere, answer the purposes 
of this life, which is, at best, but a short passage to a long eternity. 

The kind mention which you say you have heard made of me by your honorable 
friend is pleasingly flattering, as, from his universal character, there are tew men on 
earth of whose approbation I should be more ambitious. The little services, if they 
may be termed services, in my power to render you when here a captive, gave me, I am 
confident, a much higher degree of pleasure than they could possibly afford you. That 
" it is more blessed to give than to receive," I have found to be true as often as God has 
given me a heart to make the experiment, and I hope he will give me more of that 
disposition. Whether I shall ever be gratified in my wishes to see the place of your 
nativity or not, I have yet to learn. At several different times I thought the point 
nearly decided ; but I am yet on the Hill at Providence, overwhelmed with cares. And 
though I think my services of little importance to the church and College, my brethren 
and masters, it seems, think my presence here of some importance to both. I liave the 
satisfaction, however, to see my flock, both in the church and College, again collected, 
beyond what they have been since the war until lately. I have little to say of my 



1784-178."^. AN» MANNING. 403 

success in the ministry. Yesterday I baptized three. The season was soleiuu. The 
audience is both large and attentive, and I hope among them are some inquiring souls. 
One of the members of College has lately, I hope, been brought to know the Lord. 
Our number of students is about thirty-five, with a prospect of increase. But as we 
are destitute of an adequate fund, this does but increase my labors, as I am confined to 
constant teaching. 

The Lord is gracious to many parts of this land, in of late jjouring out his Spirit upon 
the people. Mr. Gano has a rich blessing in New York. The eastern 2>art of New Jersey 
is also visited. In Vermont there is a day of God's power, and so also in several of the 
interior parts of New England. May that glorious kingdom come over all the earth! I 
long to hail the approach of the King of Zion, and I partly believe I shall live to see the 
accomjilishment of at least some of the glorious things spoken of the city of God 

By recent accounts from Kentucky, five hundred miles down the Ohio below Fort 
Pitt, I learn that God has done and is still doing wonders in that wilderness. Seven or 
eight Baptist churches are here settled, and a number of faithful, but very unlettered 
ministers, are engaged in the harvest. To spread the knowledge of the Redeemer (who 
came preaching in the wilderness of Judea) in the wilderness, has long been with me a 
desirable object. And with this view I have conceived a design, if possible, of furnish- 
ing their untutored minds with books. My plan is to establish a library for the Baptist 
Association (to be established there this year) of such books as are best adapted to their 
.situation, to qualifi' their ministers more thoroughly for their ministerial work, and to 
assist those young men of promising abilities for tlie ministry with useful knowledge 
before they enter on the work. With this view I am about to make collections of books 
in America, and I recommend the same to my correspondents in England, and request 
them to send forward to the Rev. Thomas Ustick, minister of the Baptist church at Phila- 
delphia, with a line to him informing him of the donors and the design. He will take 
charge of the same, till they can be safely forwarded to Kentucky, for the uses men- 
tioned. Any services you can render in so good a cause will be kindly acee^Jted. They 
are almost wholly, I am told, destitute of all kinds of books. I propose there shall be a 
book kept by the association, in which shall be entered the donors' names, and what they 
contributed. You have my best wishes, in which Mrs. Manning joins. 

Y'our unworthy friend, 

James Manning. 

P. S. — Should I not have the pleasure to see you, please to present my Christian salu- 
tation to Mr. Thornton when you return. 



404 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

To THE Rev. Dr. Caleb Evans. 

Providence, July 21, 1785. 
Dear Sir : 

Yours of 26th and 31st of January came to hand last month while I was in New York, 
the perusal of which gave me great pleasure, especially that paragraph which mentions 
the additions to the churches in Bristol. May you be so happy as to see the good work 
increase. Things, in reference to religion, remain much as when I wrote last, except a 
greater attention paid to public worship. Lord's Day before last I baptized three per- 
sons. In several parts of New England the Lord is evidently at work. In Vermont 
there is a glorious shower of divine influence, as also in the city of New York, and the 
eastern part of the Jerseys. My Brother Gano is greatly blessed, upwards of forty having 
of late been added to his church, among whom are two of his sons and one of his daugh- 
ters. When I heard last from there the work was increasing. I had the pleasure of a 
short interview with Mr. Mullett in New York, and he twice or three times gave us the 
pleasure of his company, though but a short time, as he passed to and from Boston. 
He was kind enough to engage to transmit my letters safely to England. Your kind 
proif ers of service to myself or Mr. Stillman in soliciting for the College, should either of 
us be sent, are very acceptable, but we have yet had no advice on that subject from Dr. 
Stennett. Your account of the ideas of the Baptists with you, respecting literary insti- 
tutions, are very similar to those of the American Baptists. We shall gladly receive 
the books you mention, and any others which you can spare, or procure for us. As there 
is no direct communication between Bristol and Providence, shall wish you to send 
them via New York, to the care of my brother-in-law, John Stites, merchant, at the cor- 
ner of Queen and Chapel Streets in that city, with a line advising him where to send 
them. I shall inform him of this advice to you, and request him to forward them imme- 
diately to me. Dr. Stennett's Discourses on Domestic Duties I have, and highly esteem 
them. I wish every family were possessed of the book. Mr. Booth's treatise on Bap- 
tism, and his tract on Church Communion, he was kind enough to present to me last 
year. Upon reading, I recommended it in almost the same words in which you mention 
it; alleging that I thought it would supersede the necessity of any future publications 
on the subject. I wish it could be circulated throughout this continent, and am deter- 
mined to use my endeavors for that purpose. I shall write him on this subject by this 
opportunity. The Association Letters, the sermon on Walking by Faith, and the fifth 
volume of Saurin's Sermons all came safe to hand, for which I beg leave to present to 
you my hearty thanks, and wish, in my turn, it were in my power to afford you equal 
pleasure by transmitting some valuable American publications, but this is a barren soil. 
The embarrassments of trade, especially in the New England States, open before us a 
gloomy prospect, producing an amazing stagnation of business, which must continue till 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 405 

new channels are opened, or the restrictions on the American trade are taken off in the 
ports of Britain and France. Our merchants at present sink money by all the trade they 
drive. This renders it next to impossible to make remittances to Britain, as bills are 
eight per cent, above par. "Were it otherwise I should try to send over for some books 
on my own account ; especially for some of the publications of our ministers, in order to 
circulate them in this country ; and for the Encyclopsddia Britannica, a book we expected 
in our catalogue, but it did not come. From the accounts we have had of it I presume it 
must be a work of the greatest utility. 

The College continues to increase gradually in the number of students, which at 
present is thirty-seven, one of whom, I have reason to believe, has been recently con- 
verted. I have long wished for an account of your Education Society, — the founda- 
tion, who are admitted and with what qualifications, the course of studies pursued, 
manner of teaching, time required in completing the course, etc., etc., — but I fear I 
should be troublesome to ask it of you. Some information I received on these sub- 
jects from my dear friend Mr. Mullett, but he referred me to Mr. Evans, and, if I 
rightly recollect, mentioned a book published from whence I could draw this informa- 
tion. If giving this information should be troublesome, I do not wish it, as from your 
situation you cannot surely be in want of emj)loyment. One thing more I wish to 
mention, which is, that the new settlement of Kentucky, five hundred miles down the 
Ohio river below Fort Pitt, was first settled by Baptists. It now contains more than 
thirty thousand souls. There are seven Baptist churches and eight ministers, who 
propose forming an Association this year. They inform me that they are extremely 
destitute of books, and the ministers are illiterate, but wish for the means of informa- 
tion. I have proposed to my friends the establishing of a library of some useful books 
for the benefit of the Association, that the ministers and those who are candidates 
for the ministry may have the use of it ; and thus, may I add, laying the foundation of 
a seat of education. To this end I have written to my friends in different parts to col- 
lect what books they can, and send them to the care of Rev. Thomas Ustick, minister of 
the BaptLst church in Philadeliihia, to be ready to be sent forward by the first good con- 
veyance. Could your ministering brethren in England be induced to send their works, 
they would compose an excellent librarj' for this purpose. I find by a publication of a 
Presbyterian, under the title of a History of Kentucky, that his denomination mean to 
monopolize and gain an establishment there in a literary way. "We have in contempla- 
tion the putting in for a share. I have paid some attention to this subject, and don't 
mean to lose sight of it. .Your assistance and influence in favor of this design will be 
the most acceptable. Chanty should not, indeed, end at home. 

"With sentiments of esteem, etc., 

James Manning. 



406 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

P. S. — It is proposed to have a book in the intended library, containing the names 
of the donors, and the donations made by them, that posterity may know what atten- 
tion the present generation paid to the disseminating of useful knowledge in the wilder- 
ness. Whether the design succeeds or not, I shall have the satisfaction to do good; 
and if 1 am not greatly deceived, a little laid oiit in this way will turn to good account. 
I mean to send them, if possible, soon, a person of our denomination to open a seminary 
amongst them; and, indeed, were I not confined to the College, should spend, God 
willing, the next winter there myself. Bibles and religious books which are printed to 
be distributed gratis amongst the poor, would be well bestowed there, for the people 
are religiously disposed. The fullest confidence may be placed in Mr. Ustick, that 
everything sent to his care will be forwarded to them. He is a man of principle. As 
the term of hviman life is so short, and the sphere of our activity so contracted, it 
behooves iis to exert ourselves to fill it up, to the utmost, with acts of public utility, 
especially in promoting the interests of the Redeemer. 

Dr. Manning, as all his writings show, considered piety as the first 
and indispensable requisite in a minister. No degree of genius or of 
mental cultivation was allowed by him to compensate for the want of a 
heart renewed by the Holy Spirit, and moved to undertake the care of 
souls by the constraining love of Christ. He believed, nevertheless, in 
an educated ministry. How earnestly he labored to secure this for 
the churches more especially of his own denomination, the College of 
Rhode Island and the Warren Association are perpetual witnesses. In 
these letters to Thomas Mackaness and Dr. Evans we have an illustra- 
tion of his philanthropic efforts to enlighten the illiterate Baptist min- 
isters of Kentucky, and to provide instruction for the rising generation 
in that then remote wilderness ; and this, too, when "overwhelmed," 
as he expresses it, with his own cares and duties. For a fuller develop- 
ment of his plans with reference to Kentucky, the reader is referred to 
a letter addressed to the Rev. Dr. Rippon, dated July 22. Three 
years later we find Manning, according to Benedict, corresponding with 
the Baptists in Virginia, and encouraging them, through their estab- 
lished organizations, to found a seminary of learning for the special 
benefit of their rapidly-increasing numbers in that section of the 
country. 

In reading Senaple's History of the Baptists of Virginia, we find 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 407 

that, among the papers presented at a session of the General Com- 
mittee, held August 11, 1788, was a letter from President Manning, 
recommending and encouraging the Baptists of Virginia to erect a 
seminary of learning. The subject was taken up, and they came to 
the following decision, viz.; 

Resolved, That a committee of five persons on each side of James River, be appointed 
to forward the business respecting a seminary of learning ; accordingly Samuel Harriss, 
John Williams, Eli Clay, Simeon Walton, and David Barrow, were appointed on the 
South; and Robert Carter, John Waller, William Fristoe, John Leland, and Reuben 
Ford, on the North side of said river. 

During the year 178-1 Dr. Manning, it appears, addressed a letter to 
the Hon. Granville Sharp, LL. D., of London, a zealous member of 
the Established Church, but liberal to Protestant Dissenters of all 
classes, and noted for his opposition to the American war. He was 
also distinguished for his opposition to negro slavery, and for the zeal' 
with which he engaged in various patriotic and pliilanthropic move- 
ments. His publications, which were numerous, he presented to the 
College Library, with a set of the works of his grandfather. Dr. John 
Sharp, Archbishop of York. He subsequently sent other valuable 
presents to the Library. The following letter was written in reply to 
one from Manning : — 

Old Jewry, London, 21st Feb., 1785. 
Reverend Sir: 

On the 22d ult. I received your obliging letter of the 12tli October, 1784, by the 
hands of Mr. Drowne, who seems highly worthy of the excellent character you gave 
me of him. 

My best thanks are due to you for the satisfactory intelligence of the safe arrival of 
the books which I sent for the Library of the College in Providence, and also for your 
full and explicit account of that very useful Institution. 

Some additions have been made, I believe, to my tracts on Congregational Courts 
since I sent the copies of them by Mr. Watson ; and therefore I have now sent another 
copy for the College Library, and one for yourself; though indeed the tract is still 
incomplete by the want of an index ; for I have not had leisure to revise and correct 
the index that has been made for it by a person whom I employed for that purpose some 
time ago. 



408 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XL 

Two of the additional tracts relate to the laying out of settlements on uncultivated 
lands, — a subject of very important consideration to America; for if care is not taken 
in these early times before land becomes scarce, to rfeserve a due proportion of cottage- 
land, and common-land around every town, as well as around new settlements, for the 
accommodation of poor industrious families, and also small portions of laud for the 
maintenance of schools and other public establishments, it will be very difficult, a few 
years hence, to procure land for such purposes. 

A well-regulated agrarian law would also be exceedingly beneficial to America to 
prevent monopolies of land ; for when large tracts of land are engrossed in a few hands 
it necessarily occasions not only internal weakness, and an inability to defend a country 
against foreign invaders, but it also inevitably reduces to slavery the industrious 
laborers who cultivate the enormous tracts of the haughty overgrown landholders ; for 
this is the very foundation of the detestable aristocratical oppression and monarchial 
despotism in Russia, Poland, Bohemia, Germany, France, and all other countries under 
the unmerciful dominion of the two beasts of tyranny, which are now preparing them- 
selves for a speedy retribution of the divine vengeance ! 

A mediocrity in the proportion of landed possessions in the hands of freeholders, 
together with an ample provision of cottage-lands for the laboring poor, and common- 
lands for all other housekeepers, will certainly be miost beneficial for every community ; 
and such mediocrity of landed possessions may be gradually obtained, without injury 
to the rights of the present possessors, by restraining inheritances to an equal distri- 
bution in gavel-kind amongst all the sons of landholders ; or, if the first-born is to be 
allowed a preference, it should be only to the amount of a certain limited number of 
acres (as malny as shall be deemed a reasonable competence for an independent gentle- 
man), and the overi^lus to be divided amongst the nearest of kin, whose possessions are 
below the said limited competence of landed inheritance, unless the remainder of the 
land be otherwise legally disposed of, by the will and testament of the late possessor. 
' The inheritances of heiresses should also be subject to the same limitations ; so that 
if the husband has the legal competence of land already in his own right, the mother's 
estate should be reserved for the eldest son ; but to be held by the latter, when of age, 
no longer than during his father's life ; with an option, however, to give up either his 
father's or mother's inheritance to the younger children. By this means the over- 
grown possessions would be soon reduced to reasonable competences, and the number 
of substantial, independent landholders would be greatly increased, for the general 
security of the country, wherever such regulations shall take place. This would set 
bounds to the insatiable thirst of realizing, which prompts some thrifty men to "lay 
house to house and field to field;" for they would be compelled, by a just agrarian 
law, to find some more beneficial mode of employing their superfluous wealth, and the 
most avaricious of them would undoubtedly be induced to employ it in trade, which 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 409 

woultl greatly promote the extension of commerce, and consequently tlie welfare of the 
whole community. I have enclosed a copy of a letter which I wrote to a friend of the 
Abbe de Mably, to show that the defects which he observed in some of the American 
constitutions would be effectually remedied by the ancient system of Frank-pledge (as 
described in my last work), which was manifestly the polity of the commonwealth of 
Israel whilst under the theocracy ; for the same arrangement of the people into exact 
numerical divisions of tithings, hundreds, and thousands, was then ordained as a parf 
of their political constitutions, though it was even at that time too frequently neg- 
lected ; whereby the people fell into confusion and anarchy, and " every man did what 
seemed right in his own eyes." But this was not occasioned by any defect in the con- 
stitution itself, but merely by the neglect of it; for I know of no other method but 
this, if duly maintained hy annual renewal, whereby liberty, equal right, and national 
security can be so effectually supported. 

Probably what I have written concerning the popular right of electing bishops (see 
tract No. o) may seem superfluous, as well to yourself as to some other learned pro- 
fessors of divinity, who have not been educated in an Episcopal Church ; nevertheless, 
it is a subject worthy your consideration, esiiecially as it will be found that the most 
important objections that have usually been made by Protestant Dissenters to the 
order of bishoi>s, would be effectually removed by the restoration of popular right in 
the election of them ; and that all danger of tumults in such elections would be 
obviated by electing two of the most eminent presbyters, of unimpeachaljle morality 
and virtue, whose appointment to the dignity should be decided by lot, after solemn 
prayer by the whole congregation, according to the ajiostolic example related in Acts 
i. 15-26. I remain, with due respect and esteem, reverend sir, 

Your most obedient, humble servant, 

Granville Sharp. 

To this letter Manning replies : — 

Providence, State of Rhode Island, July 20, 1785. 
Dear Sib: 

In May last, just before I left Providence for New York and Philadelphia, I received 
by the ship London your most acceptable letters of February 21, 22, as also the copy of 
your letter to a friend of the Abbe de Mably, dated Dec. 30, 1784, and your letter of 
March 4, 1785, together with the two copies of your last work on Congregational Courts. 
As the Hope had a long passage, I received the letters and books by the London first, 
but the duplicates by the Hope came safe. I have complied and shall comply literally 
with your desire of making them public. Your letter relating to ecclesiastical matters, 



410 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

after perusal, I communicated to my ministering brethren of the Episcopal Church in 
my vicinity, who took a copy of it. I then took it to New York and communicated it to 
some of the members of Congress ; lent it to Dr. Provost, the rector, who desired lib- 
erty to copy it, which I granted him, withal requesting him to communicate it to his 
brethren. He proposed doing so, and laying it before the convention of the Episcopal 
clergy of Virginia and New York inclusive, to meet in September next at the city of 
Philadelphia. Two weeks since, I received from General Knox, via Boston, Arch- 
bishop Sharp's Sermons and Works, in seven volumes, with two volumes of Sharp on 
Congregational Courts. The General informed me that by some accident they had 
been wet. This had marred the beauty of the binding, but had not injured the print. 
No letter accompanied them, but I presume they Avere designed for the library, where 
I shall place them. The kind attention of Mr. Sharp to this College has laid me and 
the friends of it under great obligations, which I beg leave most heartily to acknowl- 
edge, by returning him, as well in behalf of the College as myself, our united thanks. 
Shall comply with your wishes respecting Bishop Wilson's works, whenever they may 
arrive. Your treatise on Frank-pledge, with that on Congregational Courts, I handed 
to the Hon. Messrs. Howell and Ellery, members of Congress for this State; but they 
had fixed upon the plan of laying out the back lands before my arrival. As I was 
pleased with your ideas on that subject, I strongly recommended to them an examina- 
tion, and an adoption of your plan where it would be an improvement upon theirs. I 
mean by this opportunity to furnish you with their publication on this subject, if I can 
procure it. I thank you for the interest you feel in the welfare and future happiness 
of America, and for your generous and benevolent exertions to promote the same. 
These exertions I doubt not will meet a due reward from the supreme Judge and 
Bewarder of merit. Your publications are highly approved by the gentlemen of my 
acquaintance. To point out an inadequate mode of defending the rights without lay- 
ing a foundation for subverting the liberties of mankind, is, in my view, the great 
desideratum of government, and I have yet seen nothing which promises fairer to 
accomplish this than your scheme, a part of which, at least, I expect will be adopted 
by the United States. 

I concur with you in sentiment exactly concerning the importance of a mediocrity 
in the jjroportion of landed possessions in the hands of freeholders. It is the real 
strength of a nation, and most agreeable to the dictates of reason and the rights of man. 
In New England a system was adopted when the country was first settled, which 
remains in full vigor to this day ; so that it is hard to find many here in the extremes of 
poverty or wealth. It was this spirit which, in the last war, captivated British armies, 
or repelled them from their borders, as it is calculated to disseminate knowledge and 
the love of liberty throughout the whole community. Many if not most of the States 
have enacted laws by which the estates of those who die intestate shall be equally 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 411 

divided amongst all the surviving children, both male and female, or at most give the 
oldest son hut two shares. In consequence of this many people make no other will, 
but appoint executors to execute that which the law has made for them. This is a guard 
against the danger arising from overgrown estates, as many who devise them by will 
or otherwise conform, nearly, to what the law points out as equitable. This renders an 
agrarian law in a measure unnecessary. 

For your friendship and assistance afforded Mr. Drowne, 1 thank you, and shall be 
happy, in my turn, to testify my readiness to repay the kindness. I have the pleasure to 
inform you that the College at Providence daily increases in reputation and number of 
students. Some valuable though small additions have been lately made to our library, 
which consists now of upwards of two thousand volumes. The prospects from this 
country of augmenting our funds, so as to establish an adequate number of j^rofessors, 
from the decay of trade and the scarcity of money are at present rather gloomy, but we 
hope some generous benefactors may yet arise and obviate this difficulty. 

I have the pleasure to inform you that there is an evident alteration for the better in 
the morals of the people throughout this country. Religion, too, begins to raise her 
drooping head; and what affords me peculiar satisfaction is, that a spirit of moderation 
prevails beyond what has been known since the first settlement of New England. 
The various denominations of Christians are cultivating a Spirit of brotherly love by an 
unreserved intercourse with each other. Among the many mischievous consequences 
resulting from the late war, we are haiipy to find that the prevalence of a spirit of toler- 
ation, and a more general knowledge of the doctrine of religious liberty, in some meas- 
ure counterbalance them. 

That you may long live to iiromote the great interests of mankind by your shining 
abilities and indefatigable labors, and have the happiness to see the good effects of them 
on societj', and at last be admitted to receive an ample reward of all your labors in the 
regions of bliss, is the ardent wish of, dear sir, 

Your sincere friend and very humble servant, 

James Manning. 

The little library of five hundred volumes had now, through the 
generosity of John Brown, and the gifts of friends, been increased, 
Manning here states, to two thousand volumes. They were kept in a 
chamber on the second floor of what is now known as University Hall. 
These literary treasures, few as they were, seem to have been thoroughly 
appreciated by their conservators, and guarded with unceasing vigi- 
lance. We have already, in a previous chapter, given some of the 



412 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

regulations of the Library, as a part of the College Laws of 1783. 
The following is an additional regulation : — 

The students shall come to the Library four at a time, when sent for by the Libra- 
rian, and they shall not enter the Library beyond the Librarian's table, on the penalty of 
three pence for every offense. 

As the Librarian's table was in the centre of the room opposite the 
entrance, this last regulation would seem to supersede a previous one, 
requiring that the Librarian " in delivering out the books, should suffer 
none of the students to derange or handle them on the shelves." 

In the early days when books were few and costly, "free circu- 
lation," of which we boast to-day, was a thing unknown, and even 
the Holy Bible was chained, preservation being the leading consid- 
eration in the minds of those to whom was entrusted the care and > 
management of public collections. How does the dark chamber of 
1785, to which the three upper classes were admitted once a week, 
when "sent for four at a time," contrast with the elegant, spacious, 
and well lighted Library Building of to-day, open day and evening for 
all students, professors, and graduates, its alcoves open, its shelves 
free, and the books handled at will without loss or injury. 

Resuming now Manning's correspondence : — 

To THE Rev. Dr. John Rippon. 

Providence, July 22, 1785. 
My Dear Brother : 

Yours of Dec. 24, 178i, came to hand last month, together with the pamphlet occa- 
sioned by the death of that eminent man. Dr. Gifford, for which [)lease accept my best 
thanks. That of Feb. 23, 1785, came by the Hope, together with the acceptable presents 
of Deacon Shepherd and Rev. John Ryland, for which, in the name of the College, 
please to present them my most cordial thanks. This should have been done by the 
Corporation, had a meeting of that body been held since. I am greatly pleased, as well 
as instructed, by both these valuable works, though my attention has been of late so 
much taken up in other ways that I can command but little time for reading. With 
you I regret your want of timely information of the catalogue of books sent for the 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 413 

College; and I make no doubt of your being both able and willing to have made a 
considerable saving for the College. Had I been then as well acquainted with your 
character as I have been since, I should have addressed you on the subject. We did 
then, as we thought, the best we could do; but my expectations were disappointed, I 
confess, in the price of the books. Should we ever be so fortunate as to have more 
money to lay out in that way, which I see but little prospect of, we shall take the 
liberty to solicit Mr. Rippon's assistance. I am pleased to hear that Dr. Gill's Exposi- 
tion is to be completed. Many of them are now wanted ; but the difficulty of making 
remittances from New England, and the inconceivable scarcitj'^ of cash, have almost 
put an end to business. New channels of trade will probably soon open, but not, I fear, 
before many of our mercantile people are ruined. I rejoice to hear that the cause of 
religion is on the advance in your churches, and that our denomination increases in 
some of the counties. Mr. Evans gives me agreeable information from Bristol of con- 
siderable additions to two of our churches iu the city. 

And though stupidity greatly prevails in general, we still have some agreeable 
revivals in different parts on this continent. The wilderness of Vermont still con- 
tinues to blossom as the rose. New York and the eastern part of New Jersey are 
blessed with a joyful harvest. Mj' Brother Gano appears to be the i^rincipal instrument 
whom God honors in that city, so lately filled with violence. Three of his own children 
are in the number of converts; and if I augur rightly, one of his sons, a doctor,' must 



> The Rev. Stephen Gano, M. D. He was born in the city of New York, Dec. 25, 1762, being the 
third son of the Rev. John Gano. At the age of thirteen he was placed under the care of his 
maternal uucle, Dr. Stites, to be educated for the medical profession. Having made honorable 
proficiency in his studies, he received an appointment as surgeon in the army, and entered the 
public service. He was at this time nineteen years old. His mother, who had been the principal 
agent in procuring for him the appointment, having buckled on his regimentals, said to him as 
they parted, concealing her tears, " My son, may Goil preserve your life and your patriotism; — the 
one may be sacrificed in retaking and preserving the home of your childhood ; but let me never 
hear that you have forfeited the birtliright of a freeman." He continued in the service two years, 
and then retired to settle as a physician in Tappan, now Orangetown, New York. Soon after his 
conversion he was impressed with the idea that it was his duty to preacli the gospel. lie was 
accordingly ordained in the Gold Street Cliurch, New York, his father and {'resident Manning par- 
ticipating in the exercises of the occasion. This was on the 2d of August, 1780. He at once 
engaged m missionary labors on the Hudson, and wherever he went his preaching awakened a deep 
interest. He was successively pastor of the Baptist church at Hillsdale and at Hudson. In 1792 he 
received an invitation to become the i)astor of the Baptist church in Proviilence, which invitation 
he accepted. Some members of the society, it is understood, at first objected to his being the pas- 
tor of a church whose relations with the College were so intimate, on the grouiul that he had never 
himself received a collegiate education. These objections, however, were soon removed, and the 
most cordial and friendly relations were established between himself and his people. Here he 
continued during the remainder of his useful life. He died on the 18th of August, 1828, in the 
sixty-seventh year of his age, greatly beloved and respected throughout the entire community. 
The event was immediately made known by the toUixig of the city bells, and the children who were 
assembled in the several schools were dismissed, out of respect to his memory. His funeral was 



414 BEOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. XL 

preach Christ to others. Upwards of forty have been lately added, and the work, by 
late information, is on the increase. Grace reigns also in several places in New Eng- 
land. Some drops have, in mercy, fallen on Providence. Three I baptized Lord's Day 
sennight. Public worship is better attended than since the war, in our meeting. I 
should be happy to receive a letter from Mr. Rippon on spiritual things, but business, 
at proper times, calls for our attention. I thank you for your kind attention to Mr. 
Drowne, as he is modest to an excess. And since you cannot command, or at least 
make use of the wings of a dove to visit America, what think you of substituting in 
their place those of a ship ? I would engage that you should have the fervent prayers 
of naany of your American friends for a safe and speedy passage, and a most kindly 
welcome to these western shores ; and withal I have prepared you a lodging, which (as a 
minister once said of his bed), if homely, is a sincere one. I am confident no house in 
your capital would please me better than Mr. Lippon's, should I ever be permitted to 
visit your country ; nor should any be preferred to it as a home ; but I almost give over 
the expectations of seeing my English brethren till I meet them above, the prospect of 
which often gives me pleasure. There I hope to see and converse with the whole 
family at home, without the aid or necessity of pen and ink. In the meantime I feel 
my obligations to diligence in the business of my holy calling, that I may be found 
ready. 

The College still increases, though gradually. Our number is thirty-seven; one of 
whom, I hope, has been called by grace. Last week we buried our venerable Chancellor, 



attended by an immense concourse of people, and a sermon appropriate to the occasion was 
preached by the Rev. Dr. Sharp, of Boston. 

During his pastorate of thirty-eight years Dr. Gano -was permitted to witness many signal 
manifestations of the divine power and presence. In one year he baptized one hundred and forty- 
seven converts, swelling the number of church communicants to six hundred and forty-eight. As 
an evidence of his general usefulness, it may be mentioned, that for nineteen consecutive years he 
presided as moderator at the meetings of the Warren Association. " He had," says the Kev. Dr. 
Jackson, " a tine, commanding figure, being more than six feet in stature, and every way well pro- 
portioned. His voice was full, sonorous, and altogether agreeable. His manner was perfectly 
artless and unstudied. He had great command of language, and could speak with fluency and 
appropriateness, with little or no premeditation. His discourses were eminently experimental." 

Dr. Gano was married on the 25th of October, 1782, to Cornelia, daughter of Capt. Josiah Vava- 
sor, of the city of New York. By her he had two sons and two daughters. On the 4th of August, 
1789, he was a second time married to Polly, daughter of Colonel Tallmadge, of New York. By 
this marriage there were also four children, three daughters and one son. His third wife was- 
Mary, daughter of Hon. Joseph Brown, by whom he had one daughter, Mrs. Eliza B. Rogers. In 
1801 he was married to Mrs. Joanna Latting, of Hillsdale, N. Y., who survived him many years. Of 
his six daughters, four have married clergymen : namely, the Rev. John Holroyd, the Rev. Peter 
Ludlow, the Rev. Dr. Benedict, and the Rev. Dr. Jackson. Dr. Gano was an honored and useful 
member of the Masonic fraternity, having been initiated in Mount Vernon Lodge, Providence, on. 
the 10th of July, 1801. Twenty-five years afterwards (Jan. 5, 1826), he, in company with the late 
Right Rev. Bishop Griswold, took the Knight Templar's degree in the Providence Encampment. 



17S4-1785. AND MANNING. 415 

Stephen Hopkins, Esq.,LL.D., for many years Governor of the Colony, and one of those 
distinguished worthies who composed the First Congress. He was one of the greatest 
men our country has reared, At the first meeting of the Corporation he was chosen 
Chancellor, and continued in the oflfice till his death. In him the College has lost a 
most valuable member and officer, and I myself a particular friend. Mr. Van Horn has 
obtained something for the College by his solicitations in Pennsylvania and New 
Jersey, in which business he is still employed. I carried in May last an application to 
Congress, by a memorial, etc., for compensation for the rents and damages done the 
College by the troops during the war, but as yet got nothing done. The papers were 
read and a committee appointed while I was there, before whom we had a hearing, and 
their f)romise of a speedy report ; but I fear little is to be expected from that quarter. 

In the new settlement of Kentucky, five hundred miles down the Ohio below Fort 
Pitt, I am credibly informed that there are ujiwards of thirty thousand inhabitants, 
amongst whom are seven Baptist churches and eight ministers ; that the people incline 
much to be of our denomination ; that the ministers are not only very illiterate, but that 
there is not a person of our persuasion callable of teaching even the languages amongst 
them ; and that they have a desire to enjoy the means of education, more especially as 
the Presbyterians, though greatly inferior in numbers, and later on the ground, appear 
to be manceuvering to avail themselves of advantages from being first in promoting 
literature in that quarter. I conjectured this from reading a pamjihlet, written by one of 
that society, giving an account of the first settlement of that country. Accordingly I 
wrote my thoughts on the subject to our "Western ministers, withal requesting them to 
possess themselves of the best information they could get before the next Association at 
Philadelphia to be held in October, that something might be done to encourage them. 
Since then I am informed that they propose establishing an association there this year. 
"With a view to assist them, I have proposed the raising of a small library, of such books 
as may be more immediately serviceable to the ministers, and those who are candidates 
for the ministry, and am using my endeavors to procure what books I can for that pur- 
pose in America. But as I expect the contributions will be small, I greatly wish for the 
assistance of our English friends. The proposal is to forward the books to the Rev. 
Thomas Ustick, Baptist minister in Philadelphia, to be forwarded by the first good 
opportunity ; that a book shall be kept in which the names of the contributors shall be 
enrolled, with an account of their donations, that posterity may know what exertions 
were made, and by whom, to proi^agate knowledge and religion in that wilderness. I 
mean to have this library under such regulationslas that it may form the basis of a liter- 
ary institution there. Those of our ministers who are able, by contributing their 
works, would greatly assist in laying this foundation ; and I doubt not that posterity 
will rise up and call them blessed. If you think well of this proposal, I doubt not but 
you will be willing to lend your influence to carry it into effect. I mean not only to 



416 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XI. 

propose, but, according to my ability, assist in this matter; and also to promote, as far 
as possible, an academy amongst them, in which I have some prospect of succeeding. As 
I shall not write on this subject to any but Mr. Evans and yourself, I would thank you to 
mention it where and to whom you think proper. Those Bibles and religious books 
printed by societies to be distributed among the poor, would be well bestowed there at 
present. I shall be happy on all occasions and by every opportunity to receive a line 
from Mr. Rippon. With sentiments of esteem, 

I am yours, in Jesus, 

James Manning. 

Dr. Manning's brief eulogium upon his "particular friend," Gover- 
nor Hopkins, the first Chancellor of the College was well deserved. 
This great and good man closed his long, honorable, and useful life on 
the 13th of July, 1785, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. " From the 
vigor of his understanding, and the intuitive energy of his mind, he had 
established," says his biographer, " a character not only prominent in 
the annals of his country, but in the walks of literature. Possessing a 
commanding genius, his constant and assiduous application in the pur- 
suit of knowledge eminently distinguished him in the first class of liter- 
ati. A leading and active promoter of literary and scientific intelli- 
gence, he attached himself in early youth to the study of books and 
men, and continued to be a constant and improving reader, a close and 
careful observer, until the period of his death. Holding all abridgments 
and abridgers in very low estimation, it is cited, in exemplification of 
his habitual deep research, and the indefatigability with which he pene- 
trated the recesses, instead of skimming the surface of things, that 
instead of depending upon summaries and concentrated authorities, he 
perse veringly pursued the whole of the great collection of ancient and 
modern history, compiled about half a century ago, by some distinguished 
scholars in Europe ; and that he also read through all of Thurloe's and 
other ponderous collections of state papers." Governor Hopkins pro- 
fessed the principles of the society of Friends, at whose places of worship 
he was a regular attendant. He was a firm believer in the Christian 
religion, but not bigoted in his belief, treating all societies of religious 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. * 417 

peojile with respect. As we have before stated, he was a warm friend of 
the College, and labored zealously to promote its interests.^ 

The following brief letter from the Rev. Dr. Caleb Evans conveys the 
pleasing intelligence that the books, to which allusion has already been 
made, had been voted to the College by the Bristol Education Society : — 

Bristol, Sept. 5, 1785. 
Dear Sir : 

I take this opportunity, by my worthy young friend Mr. Waldo, of informing you that 

at our late annual meeting of the Education Society here, Aug. 24, 1 obtained a vote in 

avor of your College, respecting the many valuable books we have to dispose of, and am 

empowered to send such as I may approve of. I shall take an early opportunity of 

doing this, and when received shall hope for the favor of a line from you. 

I have also to request the favor of a diploma of A. M. for my worthy colleague, the 
Rev. James Newton, a gentleman whose sound learning and amiable character will do 
more honor to the title than the title will do to him. He is totally ignorant of this 
application, nor should I have made it but that it hurt me to think so worthy a man 
should appear to be neglected, whilst Mr. Hall and myself, who are connected with him 
in the academy, and esteem it sufficient honor to be his equals, are each of us graduated. 
And by a late regulation our names will appear very conspicuously in our Museum. 

I write this in haste, and remain, with every wish friendship can dictate for the 
happiness of you and all your extensive connections, dear sir, your affectionate 

Friend and brother, 

Caleb Evans. 

This donation — consisting of Walton's Biblia Sacra Polyglotta with 
Castell's Lexicon, in 8 vols, folio ; Bayle's Dictionary, 5 vols, folio ; 



1 President Manning furnished for the Providence Gazette for July 16th, three days after Gover- 
nor Hopkins's decease, a most interesting and appreciative sketch of his "particular friend." 
He attributes to him" a perfect acquaintance with the history of mankind, the politics of the 
civilized world, the yirinciples and systems of laws, and the profound art of governing the hearts, 
as well as the persons of men." He describes him as " a father of the people, and the sacred 
guardian of tlieir rights, liberties, and privileges." The account of his funeral mentions " a pro- 
digious concourse of respectable citizens." The first extended account of Hopkins appeared in 
Sanderson's " Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence." This account is 
based mainly on materials furnished by Moses Brown. Innumerable biographies have since 
appeared in magazines, encyclopaedias, and dictionaries. The most recent and the most com- 
plete and exhaustive biography is entitled, "Stephen Hopkins, a Rhode Island Statesman." By 
William E. Foster. Two parts in 1 vol., small 4to. Providence, 1884. 

53 



418 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XL 

Chambers's Cyclopaedia, 2 vols, folio ; several Fathers of the church, and 
standard works in science, history, and literature — was received early 
the following year. Such evidences of kind feeling on the part of those 
with whom this country had so recently been at war, must have been 
highly gratifying at the time, as they most certainly are even at the 
present day. This society was founded in the year 1780, in aid of the 
Baptist Academy at Bristol, " to the end that dissenting congregations, 
especially of the Baptist denomination, in any part of the British domin- 
ions, may be more effectually supplied with a succession of able and 
evangelical ministers." The society has been eminently useful. It is 
now in the possession of a very valuable library, containing the collec- 
tion of books, paintings, etc., of the Rev. Dr. Andrew Gifford, for many 
years sub-librarian of the British Museum, and the library of Thomas 
Llewelyn, LL. D. 

PRovroENCB, Sept. 9, 1785.' 
To THE Honorable David Howell, 

Member of Congress In New York: 

Sir : — At the annual meeting of the Corporation yesterday, we were appointed a 
committee to address you, in their name, on the subject of their petition to Congress for 
an allowance for rents, and for damages done the Edifice while occupied by the public, 
which is so justly due to them ; and to request you to exert yourself to bring that busi- 
ness to an issue as speedily and favorably as possible before you leave Congress ; more 
especially as they expect to have no member to succeed you who will have it in his 
power or in his inclination to serve the interests of the College equal to its Secre- 
tary. 

It is imagined that your intimacy and interest with the committee appointed to report 
on our petition, will enable you, before the report is made, to discover what will be the 
tenor of it. Of this advantage we wish you to avail yourself ; and should it wear an 
unfavorable aspect, prevent its being made. Such a report might preclude us from ever 
obtaining any allowance from our own Legislature ; but if the petition is either pend- 
ing before Congress, or the prayer of it rejected by them, our prospects of assistance and 
relief from this quarter will be very unpromising, however they might prove other- 
wise. 

You may rely that this is, by your best friends here, considered as a matter of no 
small importance ; and they believe that your interest in Congress can even obtain the 
prayer of our petition, if it is in any wise practicable ; and they also think that it will 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 419 

be no inconsiderable accession to that rich harvest of honor which, as a delegate of this 
State, you have already reaped. With sentiments of esteem, we subscribe ourselves, 
Your friends and fellow-citizens, 

James Manning, ) 

John Brown, >■ Committee. 

Ends Hitchcock, ) 

On Saturday, December 3, of this j'ear, the Hon. Joseph Brown, 
LL. D., of whose sickness Manning in his correspondence makes men- 
tion, died at his house, in the fifty-second year of his age. "His 
funeral," says his obituary, "was attended by a numerous train of 
mourning relatives, and the most respectable inhabitants of the town, 
and a discourse suitable to the occasion was delivered by Dr. Manning. 
. The Faculty and students joined the procession as mourners, 
and felt the loss of a Maecenas." His character and life we have 
already given in our sketches of the Brown family. (Manning and 
Brown University, pp. 162-6.) 

We close this chapter with a correspondence between Manning and 
John Gill, a goldsmith of London. It relates principally to the publi- 
cations of the Rev. Dr. John Gill,^ and will on this account be found 
interesting. The last letter contains a pleasant bibliographical "mor- 
ceau," relating to Backus's Ecclesiastical History. 

1 This distinguished Baptist divine died at his house at Camberwell, Oct. 14, 1771, in the seventy- 
fifth year of his age. He was pastor of the Baptist church and congregation at Horselydown, 
Southwark, near London, for fifty-one years. The following is a list of his published writings, all 
of which are to be found in the Library of the University, having been bequeathed to the College by 
the author (see Chap. IV. p. 190): (1.) Ancient Mode of Baptizing by Immersion maintained. 8vo. 
London, 1726. (2.) Defense of Ancient Mode of Baptizing by Immersion. 8vo. London, 1727. (3.) 
Exposition of Solomon's Song. Folio. London, 1728. A fourth edition of this work was published 
in 1805, in two octavo volumes. (4.) Prophecies respecting the Messiah fulfilled in Jesus. 8vo. 
London, 1728. (5.) The Cause of God and Truth (in answer to Dr. Whitby on the Five Points). 4 
vols. 8vo. London, 1735-8. A fifth edition was published in 1838, in one octavo volume. (6). 
Exposition of the New Testament. 3 vols., folio. London, 1746-8. (7.) Exposition of the Old Tes- 
tament. 6 vols., folio. London, 1748-63. A new edition of both Testameats, with a memoir by 
Dr. Rippon, and a portrait, was published in 1816, in nine volumes quarto. Vol. I. of another edi- 
tion was published in 1852, in royal octavo, and the Old Testament was published by Collingridge, 
of London, in 1854, in six royal octavo volumes. (8.) Anti-Pedo-baptism. 8vo. London, 1753. (9.) 
The Argument from Apostolical Tradition in favor of Infant-Baptism considered. The third edi- 
tion of this was published in 1765, in octavo. (10.) Dissertation on the Antiquity of the Hebrew 
Language, Letters, etc. 8vo. London, 1767. (11.) A Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity. 
3 vols. 4to. London, 1769-70. This has gone through several editions, the latest of which was pub- 
lished in 1839, in two volumes octavo. (12.) Sermons and Tracts, with memoirs of the author. 



420 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XL 

To President Manning. 

London, March 13, 1784. 
Reverend Sir: 

I take the liberty to inform you of the death of Mr. George Keith,"^ bookseller in 
London. He died Dec. 4, 1782, and left nae his sole executor. I find by his books that 
you stand indebted to his estate £2 9s. 9d., which I doubt not you will honorably dis- 
charge. At the same time, I beg leave to acquaint you that I have several sets of Dr. 
Gill's New Testament, five volumes quarto, at £3 15s. each set, in boards. According 
to the proposals at first delivered out, subscribers for six sets to have a seventh, I am 
willing to dispose of them on these terms, or, if a less number is wanted, will allow 
twenty per cent, on delivery, payable by a merchant or trader in London. There is also 
the Old Testament in quarto, begun by Mr. Keith, but I cannot get any bookseller in 
London to complete it. It begins with Genesis and ends with the 132d Psalm, in six 
volumes. These I have to dispose of at £1 16s. The subscription price was £4 10s., or 
15s. each volume. Also some few sets of the Doctor's tracts, collected together and 
printed in three volumes quarto, with memoirs of his life, at £1 16s., or 12s. each vol- 
ume. Also his Cause of God and Truth, and his Exposition of Solomon's Song, at 12s. 
each volume, all printed on the same size and paper as the New Testament. As I wish 
to promote the sale of the Doctor's works in America, on that account I have charged 
them at a low price, when the discount proposed is considered. A line directed for me 
to be left at Mr. Ash's, bookseller. No. 15 Little Tower Street, will be conveyed to me. 
I am, reverend sir, with all due respect. 

Your humble servant. 

John Gill. 

Manning's Reply. 

Providence, July 9, 1784. 
Sir: — Yours of March 13 reached me the last month. I had before heard of the 
death of Mr. George Keith, and sympathize with you and the family in the loss. I had 
no knowledge of a balance due to him till I received your letter, as I had many years 
ago given orders to a friend of mine, whom I have not since seen, to pay the balance, if 
any remained due. By this conveyance goes a letter from Mr. Backus to Mr. Henry 



2 vols. 4to. London, 1773. A new edition of Gill's Sermons, in three volumes octavo, has appeared. 
In addition to the list here given, Dr. Gill published many occasional sermons and tracts on Bap- 
tism, most of which are in the College Library. 

" If any man," says the Rev. Augustus Toplady, of the Episcopal Church, " can he supposed to 
have trod the whole circle of human learning, it was Dr. Gill. While true religion and sound learn- 
ing have a single friend in the British empire, the works and name of Dr. Gill will be precious and 
revered. . . . "With a solidity of judgment and with an acuteness of discernment peculiar to 
few, he exhausted, as it were, the very soul and substance of most arguments he undertook." 

1 Mr. Keith was a brother-in-law of the writer, having married his sister Mary, daughter of the 
KeV. Dr. Gill. 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 421 

Kane, executor to Mr. Wallin, to pay you the sum of £2 9s. 9(1. on my account, as he had 
money in Mr. "Wallin's hands. If you will please call on him he will doubtless dis- 
charge the debt. Of this please to advise me by the first opportunity. I shall be 
extremely sorry if the edition of Dr. Gill's Bible in quarto cannot be completed, as I 
had sold my former set, in full confidence that I should soon be able to replace mine 
from this edition. Others here wish to purchase, but they also wish to have the work 
complete. They especially wish for his Exposition of the Prophets. Would it not be 
better for your family to complete the work, than to lose in a great measure the sale of 
whatis already done, and deprive the world of such a valuable treasure? I have on 
hand some of all the rest of his works you mention ; besides, at present it is extremely 
dilficult to make remittances to England, as the mercantile affairs of the country have 
been so long and so greatly deranged ; to which I may add the great inattention, in gen- 
eral, to the reading of books on religious subjects, — the natural consequence, perhaps, 
of such a kind of war as that in which we have been involved. This, it is to be hoped, 
will soon alter for the better, when I shall watch every opportunity of making Dr. Gill's 
works as much known as ijossible. This I have hitherto ever had in view, and it was 
no inconsiderable motive in parting with his Exposition, above mentioned. I was 
lately desired to inquire whether those editions complete could be obtained in Eng- 
land, by a gentleman who wishes to purcha.se them. The state of religion amongst our 
denomination in America appears rather on the gaining hand, as there are revivals in 
many of the churches. The College, too, although greatly injured by the war, promises 
soon to regain its former state. The government of it, through the smallness of its 
funds and the great repairs necessary, find themselves amazingly embarrassed, and 
consequently wish for every assistance from the friends of the Institution, from every 
quarter. I am, sir. 



Your friend and servant, 
To President Manning. 



James Manning. 



London, Oct. 14, 1784. 
Sir: — I received yours in the month of August last. Have applied to Mr. Kane, 
Mr. Wallin's executor, who informs me that he has no money in hand for Mr. Backus. 
Mr. Backus sent seventy copies of his History of the Baptists, which never came to the 
late Mr. Wallin. Mr. Kane intends to acquaint Mr. Backus of his disappointment. I 
am much obliged to you, sir, for the great regard and kind intentions expressed in your 
letter of promoting the sale of Dr. Gill's works among your friends. I have now the 
pleasure to inform you that the quarto edition of the Old Testament will be completed. 
It is now in the press, and will be finished with all convenient speed. What was con- 
tained in my former letter is now set aside, not having any of the Old Testament to sell 
at the price therein mentioned. What I have will now be wanted to complete sets. I 



422 BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XI. 

can supply you with a set of the folio edition at ten guineas, and also a set of the 
Prophets at two guineas. I shall be glad to hear that religion is in a flourishing state 
among you, that the churches of Christ are increasing, and that you, sir, may again see 
that Seminary of learning over which you have the honor to preside retrieve its former 
state, and be attended with all the success and usefulness desirable. I am, sir, with 
great esteem, 

Your obliged, humble servant, 

John Gill. 

Manning's Reply. 

Providence, July 24, 1785. 
Dear Sir: 

Yours of Oct. 14, 1784, came to hand in May, since which I have had no opportunity 
of sending you an answer. Soon after the reception of it I saw Mr. Backus, who had 
received the information you mention respecting his books, but informed me that he 
expected still to obtain them, by getting information of the captain who carried them; 
but should he be disappointed in his expectations, he had sent a considerable number 
of the second volume of his History, from the net proceeds of which he had ordered 
you paid, so that I expect, by or before the arrival of this, your money will be ready 
for you. He engaged to write you that you might know on whom to call. I am sorry 
for the disappointment, but hope your money is safe. I am rejoiced to hear that the 
Doctor's Old Testament is to be completed, and you may be assured that what little 
influence I possess shall be employed in the sale of his works. But such at present is 
the scarcity of money, and difficulty of making remittances to Great Britain, by the 
high price of bills, that business is almost entirely stagnated. We hope, however, for 
better times. I thank you for yovir kind expressions ofvregard for the College with 
which I am connected. Great indeed have been the damages which it sustained by 
the war, for which hitherto we have received no compensation; nor are our prospects 
of it in the future very flattering. The Institution, under all its disadvantages, begins 
to flourish, and the number of students increases as fast as might be reasonably 
expected. Religion, too, begins amongst us to hold up its head. In several parts there 
■ are great revivals, some account Of which I have mentioned to Mr. Rippon in a letter of 
this date. Should my expectations of discharging that balance, through Mr. Backus, 
be again disappointed, upon advice from you I will take measures which will prove 
effectual to accomplish it. With sentiments of esteem, I am, sir. 

Your humble servant, 

James Manning. 



1784-1785. AND MANNING. 423 

To President Manning. 

London, March 28, 1786. 
Reverend Sir: 

A letter of yours, dated July 24, 1785, was not received by me until about the middle 
of December. I should be glad when favored with another letter from you, to be 
informed by whom it was conveyed to me, as no name was mentioned to whom I might 
apply for the small sum you expected to be paid me by some person in London. I am 
suri^rised to find Mr. Backus has not heard what became of the first volume of his 
History of the Baptists. Last summer a Mr. Thomas saw a sheet of his History brought 
into a house where he was, wrapped around a pound of cheese or butter. Mr. Thomas 
went immediately and purchased all the paper relating to that History the cheese- 
monger had; since which I am informed he has received the second volume, and now 
makes complete sets. Whether this is done for his own emolument, or whether he 
intends it for Mr. Backus's advantage, I cannot tell. Honor and justice seem to decide 
it in favor of Mr. Backus. But as I have no acquaintance with Mr. Thomas, I can say 
no further about it. 

I am sorry to inform you that the printer who had engaged to finish the Exposition 
has failed and left London. There is now no hope of its being completed. The six 
volumes of the Old Testament, reaching as far as the 132d Psalm, may now be had at 
£1 16s., which I think was mentioned to you in a former letter. If your friends choose 
to have any of them sent, shall allow you twenty j)er cent, for your trouble. I remain, 
sir, with all due respect. 

Your humble servant, 

John Gill. 

On the back of this letter Mr. Manning has written "answered." 
Of the reply, however, no copy has come to our knowledge. 



CHAPTER XII. 

1786-1788. 

Manning as a patriot statesman — Appointed a member of Congress — Account of this 
event, by Hon. Asher Robbins — Rev. Dr. Perez Fobes appointed to take charge of 
the College in Manning's absence — Letter to his brother, Jeremiah Manning — Let- 
ter to Rev. Dr. Rippon, giving his reasons for entering upon political life — Interests 
of the College paramount to all others — Manning's description of a minister such as 
he might wish to succeed him in the pastorate of the Baptist church — Letter from 
Nicholas Brown to Rev. Dr. Smith, respecting Manning and a proposed vacancy in the 
pastorate of the church — Letter to Rev. Dr. Evans — Letter to Rev. Abraham Booth 
— Rev. Dr. William Gordon, of London, author of a history of the American war — 
Letter to him — Letter to Rev. Dr. Smith, giving an account of his position as a 
member of Congress — Letter from Dr. Drowne to Manning in Congress — Letter 
to Governor Collins — Letter to his colleague. Gen. Nathan Miller, giving an account 
of his own embarrassed condition from the want of funds, and urging him to take 
his seat as a delegate — Second letter to Mr. Miller — Letter to Manning from Dr. 
Gordon — Public exercises of Commencement resumed — Sketch of Hon. Nicholas 
Brown — Extract from a letter illustrating the difficulties against which the College 
at this time had to contend — Letter to Rev. Dr. Smith — Severe reflections on the 
General Assembly of Rhode Island — Trying period in Manning's life — Commence- 
raent of 1787 — Sketch of Hon. Samuel Eddy — Biographical sketch of Rev. Dr. Jona- 
than Max cy — Confederation — Federalists and Anti-Federalists — Manning's influ- 
ence in favor of the " New Constitution" — Attends the Convention in Massachusetts 
for the adoption of the Constitution — Anecdote respecting him — Letter to Rev. 
Dr. Smith alluding to his attendance upon the debates of the Convention — Bitter 
hostility of the Anti-Federalists to the new Constitution — Almost a civil conflict 
on the occasion of a Fourth of July celebration in Providence — Letter from Rev. 
Dr. Rippon — Letter to Rev. Thomas Ustick — Letter to Rev. Dr. Smith — Biographi- 
cal sketch of Rev. Dr. AsaMesser — Commencement of 1788 — Sketch of Hon. James 
Burrill — Letter from Rev. Morgan Edwards — Letter from Rev. Dr. Evans — Letter 
to Rev. Dr. Smith — Early schools of Providence — Manning's efforts in behalf of 
popular education. 

Dr. Manning is now to be exhibited in a new character and in new 
relations. Hitherto, says Prof. Goddard, we have seen him ministering 
at the altar, or dispensing the oracles of wisdom amid the shades of the 
academy. We are now to note his career as a patriot statesman. 

The articles of confederation adopted by the United States in 1781, 
proved, as is well known, utterly inadequate to the purposes of govern- 



1786-1788. BKOWN UNIVEKSITY. 425 

ment. Commercial embarrassments multiplied ; the public credit was 
impaired ; and the great interests of the nation, nay even the whole 
political fabric, was threatened with destruction. At this crisis of 
depression and alarm. Dr. Manning was, by a unanimous resolution of 
the General Assembly, appointed, at its March session in 1786, to rep- 
resent Rhode Island in the Congress of the Confederation. The story of 
this interesting event in his life is thus told by the Hon. Asher Robbins, 
in a letter to Prof. Goddard, which we find in his memoir of Manning. 

Though he had other merits and ample for this appointment of delegate, I have no 
doubt the dignity and grace for which he was so remarkable smoothed the way to it. It 
took place in this wise : There was a vacancy in the delegation, and the General Assem- 
bly, who were to fill it, were sitting in Providence. No one in particular had been pro- 
posed or talked of. One afternoon Dr. Manning went to the State House, to look in 
upon the Assembly and see what was doing. His motive was curiosity merely. On his 
appearance there, he was introtluced on the floor, and accommodated with a seat. 
Shortly after. Commodore Hopkins, who was then a member, rose and nominated 
President Manning as a delegate to Congress, and thereupon he was appointed, and, 
according to my recollection, unanimously. I recollect to have heard Commodore Hop- 
kins say (it was at the house of his brother. Governor Hopkins, where I shortly after 
met with him) that the idea never entered his head till he saw the President enter and 
take his seat on the floor of the Assembly ; and the thought immediately struck him that 
he would make a very fit member for that august body, the Continental Congress. 

Congress under the old confederation sat, as you know, in conclave ; no report of 
their debates was published. How far Mr. Manning mingled in them, therefore, I can- 
not say. I recollect his speaking of one in which he participated (the subject I have 
forgotten), on account of a personal controversy to which it gave rise between him and 
a fiery young man, a delegate from Georgia by the name, as I think, of Houston. This 
young man in his speech had reflected upon New England and her people. Mr. 
Manning repelled the attack, and by way of offset, drew a picture of Georgia and her 
people. This so nettled the young man that in his passion he threatened personal vio- 
lence. The next day he appeared in Congress with a sword by his side. This produced, 
at once, a sensation in that body, the symptoms of which were so alarming that he 
thought proper to withdraw, take off his sword, and send it home by his servant. In 
the course of the day he took an opportunity to meet with Mr. Manning, and to make 
him an apology. 

He must have given himself much to business then, as he seemed to be master of all 
54 



426 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

the important questions which had been debated, and could give the arguments, pro and 
con, offered by the different speakers. 

The famous Dr. Johnson, of Connecticut, was a member at the same time, with 
whom Mr. Manning became intimate, and of whom he always spoke with admiration. 
The Doctor once paid him the compliment of holding the pen of a ready writer, which 
Mr. Manning very highly valued as coming from such a man. It was upon an occa- 
sion of drawing up a report for a committee, of which both were members, and which 
report the Doctor professed to be much pleased with. 

Dr. Manning at first pleaded his connection with the College as a 
sufficient reason for declining his appointment ; but many of the Cor- 
poration were gentlemen of high political standing, who, regarding the 
interests of the Institution as involved in the character and reputation 
of the State and the course of public measures, advised him to take his 
seat, and designate a suitable person to preside in his absence. Accord- 
ingly, at a special meeting of the Trustees and Fellows held at his 
house, March 13, his request for absence was granted, and the Rev. 
Perez Fobes, LL. D., pastor of the Congregational church and society 
in Raynham, Mass., was appointed to take charge of the Institution 
from June 1 to September 1, as Vice-President. Mr. Fobes was a 
graduate of Harvard College, in the class of 1762. He accepted the 
appointment, and discharged the duties of the place with fidelity and 
good success. Shortly afterwards, it may be added, he was appointed 
Professor of Natural Philosophy, which position he occupied twelve 
years, coming in from Raynham once or twice a week, during portions 
of the year, to deliver lectures. In 1795 he was elected one of the 
Fellows of the College. 

The following letter to his brother, Jeremiah Manning, Esq., in 
Bonham Town, may be introduced here : — 

Providence, April 19, 1786. 
Dear Brother: 

This will probably be handed you by cousin Robert Randolph, who sails this morn- 
ing for New York. Your son's letters and his information, will render unnecessary any 
particulars respecting family matters, or indeed any other information. You probably 
may think strange of my appointment to, or at least my acceptance of, a seat in Con- 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 427 

gress. Probably I can satisfy you on this head, when I have time and opportunity to 
come to an explanation on this subject, which may soon offer, as I have contemplated a 
visit to New York before long. Suffice it to tell you I mean not to assume, for any 
length of time, the political character. Though the unanimous suffrage of the Legis- 
lature called me to this office, it was a matter to me most unexpected, as it had been by 
me or my friends totally unsolicited. One of the first characters in the Government 
strongly solicited me to accept the appointment when made ; yet my first determina- 
tion was to decline it. After reflections reconciled me so far to it as to conclude to 
accept it till next November, but no longer. Accordingly I have utterly interdicted 
the mention of my name at the ensuing election. The College and congregation are, I 
hope, in the interim well provided for. Your son has concluded not to return to Jersey 
this vacation, as he wishes to pursue his studies with attention, and prepare the Salu- 
tatory Oration for Commencement, to which he is appointed. This is the same which 
was assigned his uncle in 1762 at Princeton. 

My nephew, I suppose, has informed you what articles, if they can be procured 
more easily than money, will suit for remittance, especially what kind of family sup- 
plies will be most wanted. I expect to be in great want of cash in New York, as I fear 
Government has an empty chest ; hence I shall be able to advance but little towards 
my expenses at my first going. This will necessitate me to call on those upon whom I 
have demands to furnish the needful. 

"With every wish for yours, and your family's temporal and spiritual welfare which 
fraternal affection can dictate, 

I am, dear sir, your unworthy brother, 

James Manning. 

The following letter to his friend the Rev. Dr. John Rippon, gives 
the reasons more especially which induced Dr. Manning to accept this 
appointment, and also his views in regard to entering the political arena. 
The interests of the College, it will be observed, in this as in other 
matters, were uppermost in his mind : — 

Providence, April 7, 1786. 
My Dear Friend: 

Yours of June 23, 1785, came to hand too late to comply with your request relative to 
Mr. Dunscombe, as it did not reach me till November. He is on my list for the honors 
of the College next Commencement. 

Of Mr. Booth's merit I am fully conscious ; but what apology shall I make to him for 
not informing him that the degree of Master in the Arts was conferred on him before the 



428 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

late war, and that he stands on our printed catalogue graduated in 1774? Some difficul- 
ties respecting making out diplomas for him and a number of gentlemen in England 
delayed it till the late confusion commenced, which totally deranged the affairs of the 
College, and effaced the memory of it till of late, especially as our Secretary had 
omitted entering the graduations on the records. This but lately came to my knowl- 
edge. The multiplicity of cares which divide my attention and engross all my time, 
together with the above, is the best excuse I can make. By Dr. Gordon I now send him 
this feather, as a token of our respect for his great merit. This, with a letter to him, 
and letters and diplomas to several other gentlemen graduated before the war, I take 
the liberty to enclose to you, and beg of you to forward them the first good conveyance. 
During the late war we have been so tremblingly alive, that we have lately started up 
as from a dream. Of this at least they may be assured, that they were not treated 
designedly with neglect. 

Pray, don't be alarmed should you hear that I am in Congress. The motive of my 
accepting this most unexpected, unsolicited, but unanimous appointment of the State to 
that office, was the recovery of a considerable sum due to the College, for the use taken 
of the Edifice, and the damage done to it by the public in the late war. It was thought 
by those most acquainted with the state of our application to that honorable body, that 
my presence would facilitate that grant ; more especially as none of the persons likely 
to be elected would greatly interest themselves in that business. My appointment is 
only from our late session till next November, when I mean to relinquish the office, as 
in general I always considered politics out of my province. Accordingly I have inter- 
dicted my name being mentioned in the next nominating. Both the College and the 
congregation are, I hope, well provided for during my absence. The latter are now 
looking out for a minister. I ever declined the pastoral care of the church as quite 
incompatible with my engagements to the College, though I have preached, adminis- 
tered ordinances, visited the sick, attended funerals, etc., for the last fifteen years, 
without assistance. Convinced that I cannot hold that place with advantage to them 
and hold the Presidency of the College, I have strongly recommended to them to obtain 
if possible a minister, and they are now looking out for one. But there is little prob- 
ability of their finding the man soon on this continent. A man of letters, politeness, 
strict piety, and orthodoxy, of popular talents, possessed of a good share of human 
prudence, and no bigot, — in a word, a truly Christian orator is the man they want. 
Should any of our English brethren of this description incline to visit America, I wish 
him to take Providence in his way. And should he like the people, and the people him, 
I believe our congregation would afford him an honorable support, as it is large and 
composed of some of the most wealthy men and first characters in the State. Pray, 
have you no Mr. Eippons, Booths, Evanses, etc., to spare from your side of the water? 
I should for one be very happy to see them on our American shores. 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 429 

The number of students iu College is about fifty, and our prospects would be flatter- 
ing were it not for the scarcity of money in this country, which embarrasses all kinds 
of business. A fund to educate pious youth of our denomination is what I have long 
wished for, but have not yet been able to accomplish. Several hopeful youth for want 
of this are denied an education, who promised fair to have been ornaments to the min- 
istry. The state of religion, except in Boston, Newport, and in Vermont, is not very 
flourishing. With sentiments of esteem, I am, sir. 

Your assured friend and humble servant, 

James Manning. 

P. S. — Some drops of mercy have, I trust, fallen upon Providence. Our common 
friend, Dr. Drowne, requested me to mention to you that the gentlemen who appraised 
the loss he sustained by the bad package of the medicines he received from Mr. Pine, 
are noted apothecaries, and men to be trusted. Such, indeed, I esteem them ; and have 
every reason to think the Doctor took the utmost pains to render the loss as small as 
possible. In justice I think myself bound to say this. 

The letter herewith enclosed from Mr. Nathaniel Dummer is from one of my partic- 
ular friends. His wife is a member of our church, and truly an excellent woman. He 
applied to me to get the information through some of my friends in England. He 
feared to intrust it to a person in whom I could not place the highest confidence, as be 
feared he might not get the best information. If it would be compatible with your 
business to procure the information requested, soon, and transmit to me directed to 
New York, and inform me what the expense is, I will engage to see you paid the 
expense and trouble which it may cost you, over and above thanking you for your kind- 
ness. As the information of Governor Dummer is thought worthy to be relied on 
since he came to America after he was grown up, it is thought highly probable that my 
friend is the next heir to the estate. Should the information coincide with his wishes, 
he means immediately to embark for England to attend to the business. Pray, let me 
hear by every good opportunity of your welfare. "With every wish which the sincerest 
friendship can dictate for your temporal and eternal felicity, I subscribe myself. 
Your very unworthy fellow-servant in the gospel of Christ, 

James Manning. 

" A man of letters, politeness, strict piety, and orthodoxy, of popular 
talents, possessed of a good share of human prudence, and no bigot ; 
in a word, a truly Christian orator," — such is Dr. Manning's brief and 
expressive description of a minister to succeed in the pastorate of the 



430 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

Baptist church at Providence. How unconsciously has he here pre- 
sented his own character as a preacher and pastor ! 

In reference to Manning's appointment to Congress and the conse- 
quent vacancy in the church, Mr. Nicholas Brown thus writes to the 
Rev. Hezekiah Smith, under date of April 2, 1786 : — 

You will perhaps think it strange to hear of Mr. Manning's going to Congress, but I 
reserve giving a full account of this matter, hoping this may have some influence in 
inducing you to come at the time proposed, when you will hear all. I will only say 
here, that as the College increases, Mr. Manning urges, and with reason, that he cannot 
possibly attend to the duties of both President and pastor, and that the church has 
suffered for the want of time on his part to visit, etc. He has therefore recommended 
to the church and society to lookup a suitable person as Ms successor, and as the College 
funds are not of themselves, in their present state, sufficient for his support, he goes to 
Congress to get what is due for rents, damages, etc., during the war The commit- 
tee before mentioned are not only to obtain supplies in his absence, but to look up a suit- 
able person to take charge of the church as a pastor. You know he must be a man of 
learning, and prudently popular. The society will engage such an one a genteel living, 
etc. Your advice, my dear friend, if nothing more, is absolutely necessary at this junc- 
ture. No one, let me add, will be more acceptable, on all accounts, than yourself, as a 
candidate for this important place. 

The following letter to the Rev. Dr. Caleb Evans is very similar to 
the one to Dr. Rippon, and bears the same date. We give it, however, 
as a part of Manning's correspondence, omitting a portion to avoid 
needless repetition. 

Providence, April 7, 1786. 
Dear Sir : 

Some time in November last I received your most acceptable favor of Sept. 5th, for- 
warded by Mr. "Waldo. I am happy to hear that your Education Society, at their meet- 
ing in August last, empowered you to send such valuable books as they have to dispose 
of to our College. As you intended sending them by an early opportunity, and as I 
have heard nothing on the subject since, I fear they may have fallen into bad hands, or 
have been lost at sea. This induces me to write now that you may know they have not 
arrived. 

If spared to see another annual meeting of the Corporation, at which only we have 
ever conferred degrees, we shall remember your worthy colleague, the Rev. James 
Newton, and confer on him the degree of Master in the Arts. Your recommendation 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 431 

of any gentleman for the honors of the College will always meet with particular 
attention. 

The College consists of upwards of fifty members, and would flourish greatly were 
it not for the scarcity of money in this country, which exceeds description. This scar- 
city ijeculiarly affects us. The appropriation of the Edifice to public uses during the war 
was productive of great damage to it, for reparation of which, as well as for the rents, 
the Corporation sent me last year to Congress, with the state of our accounts and 
claims and sufficient vouchers. "We obtained a hearing before a committee appointed to 
report on the subject of the petition, and obtained a favorable report, but lost it before 
Congress when the report was acted upon. Our late Professor Howell was then a mem- 
ber, and had great influence ; but as he had effectually opposed some continental meas- 
ures, he thinks the question was lost by that means, together with the small number of 
the states represented on the floor. By the articles of the confederation, he is not again 
eligible for three years ; nor could we find any man, jirobably, to be chosen, who would 
deeply interest himself for the College. This induced me, at his earnest importunity, 
together with his giving the greatest encouragement that a grant might be obtained, to 
accept the unanimous appointment of our Legislature, at their late session, as their first 
delegate in Congress till next November, — an appointment to me most unexpected, as I 
had considered politics out of my province, and on that account had declined a former 
nomination to that office. The interests of the College lay near my heart, and the neces- 
sities of it call aloud for the exertions of all its friends. I thought proper to give you 
these hints, lest upon hearing of my being in Congress you might think I meant to 
assume the political character ; than which, in general, nothing is more remote from my 
intentions, notwithstanding the great importianity of many of the Legislature for me to 
continue in the office. I hope the College and congregation will be well provided for 
during my absence, and I do not doubt it from the arrangements made. 

The state of religion in this country at present is low ; yet our churches in Boston 
and Newport the last winter and this spring are mercifully visited, and some drops of 
mercy have, I trust, fallen iipon Providence. With every wish for your happiness, I 

remain, dear sir. 

Yours, etc., 

James Manning. 

To THE Rev. Abraham Booth. 

Pkovedence, Rhode Island, April 7, 1786. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Your most acceptable favor of the 25th of March, 1785, never reached me until Sep- 
tember last. I heartily thank you for your translation of Dr. Abadie. I esteem it a 



432 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

masterly performance, and wish it to have a general spread through this country, 
■which, in imitation of the old country, is rejecting the ancient gospel. Dr. Chauncey's 
hook in favor of uniA'^ersal salvation, printed in London, has made many proselytes 
amongst the New England Congregationalists. Mere nominal Christian ministers now 
begin to show on whose side they are. I am convinced, however, that these trying 
times are necessary, and will eventually subserve the interests of the Redeemer, 
False friends are more dangerous to religion than avowed enemies. 

After a cursory reading of your " Pedobaptism Examined " last spring, I loaned it 
to my Brother Gano at New York, who at that time had great need of it, and I have 
never been able to get it since. I read it with great pleasure, and shall be happy to see 
a second edition, without any corrections except such as the judicious author may see 
fit to make. It is out of my power to comply Avith your request to criticise it. Some 
hints when at New York led me to suspect on whom you animadverted in the note you 
mention. It grieves me that such fine abilities should be prostituted in the support of 
error. Hope he may return to a better way of thinking. You need not fear any dis- 
coveries to your disadvantage. 

I thank you for your attention to my friend Dr. Drowne. Having gained his object 
in France, he returned last summer, and is now well, and retains a high sense of the 
favors received in your family. 

I hope the amiable and worthy Dr. Stennett is recovered, and will yet be spared to 
do much service to the cause of the Redeemer, in addition to the important service he 
has already rendered. I rejoice to hear that his son is such a worthy character. I wish 
he may fill his honored father's place, when he, having served his generation according 
to the will of God, shall sleep with his fathers. 

It is pleasing to hear that the cause of God gains ground in England, and especially 
in our denomination. Sorry am I to hear of the dissolution of two Baptist churches in 
London. Dr. Gibbons was an intimate acquaintance of my old President Davies, and 
through that channel I became acquainted with his character. I esteemed him a 
worthy, good man. Some more of Mr. Backus's first volume, he tells me, are found in 
London. 

Your letter, accompanying a copy of Dr. Abadie, I forwarded immediately to Mr. 
Stillman, who received it. 

Our Baptist churches in Boston and Newport have had through the winter, and still 
have, a gracious visit. Considerable additions have been made to them, and the good 
■work continues. I have also good tidings of the same kind from Virginia. Some 
scattering drops I hope have fallen upon Providence, but the number of late conver- 
sions is but small. 

What apology shall I make for not advising you that the College conferred on you 
the degree of Master in the Arts in 1774? Directly after Commencement I was called 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 433 

away to the Southern states, and on mj' return the Lord was pleased to pour out his 
Spirit on the people of my charge in a glorious manner, which engaged both my time 
and my attention till that fatal 19th of April following, when hostilities commenced at 
Lexington, which cut off all intercourse between the two countries, and so deranged 
the affairs of the College that it is but lately that I recollected that diplomas had never 
been sent to you and several other gentlemen graduated upon the recommendation of 
Mr. Riley, of Northampton. If these excuses, with more somewhat similar, are not 
sufficient, and I seem really to doubt myself, I must take the blame of neglect on 
myself, and make the best apology I can by complying with my duty at this late hour. 
As a testimony of our respect for your merit, be pleased to accept the diploma which 
accomjianies this ; and if you can, excuse the omission of giving you timely advice. 
To one not a resident in America it is hard to conceive into what confusion the war 
threw us, from which it will not be easy to recover soon. The College, however, is in a 
more prosperous state than ever, and promises fair to hold a rank amongst literary 
institutions in this new world ; but the scarcity of cash greatly embarrasses the College 
at present, as it is extremely difficult for people of property to raise money to educate 
their children. 

I shall be glad to have a letter from Mr. Booth by every opportunity. 

"With every wish for your temporal and eternal felicity which the sincerest friend- 
ship can dictate, I remain, dear sir, 

Yours, in Christ, 

James Manning. 

The following letter is addressed to the Rev. Dr. William Gordon, 
who, it will be remembered, came from England in 1770, with a letter 
of introduction to Manning from the Rev. Dr. Stennett. He settled in 
Massachusetts, and was ordained pastor of a Congregational church in 
Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, on the 6th of Jul}'^, 1772. When the Revo- 
lution commenced, he took a very active part against his native country, 
and was appointed chaplain to the Provincial Congress. He preached 
a Thanksgiving discourse, Dec. 15, 1774, which is published in Thorn- 
ton's "Pulpit of the American Revolution." In 1786 he returned to 
England, and two years afterwards published, in four octavo volumes, 
"The History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Inde- 
pendence of the United States of America," — a candid and impartial 
work, says Alibone, of Avhich there have been several editions. He 
died at Ipswich, Oct. 19,1807, aged seventy-seven. Manning, it seems, 

55 



434 BROWN UNIYERSITY Chap, XII. 

cultivated an intiraacy with liim. In this letter he speaks of a dona- 
tion of books which Gordon made to the College Library. Among 
them we notice Caryl's Exposition, with Practical Observations upon 
the book of Job, — a work in two huge folios, published in London, in 
1676, of which Charles Lamb playfully says, "What any man can 
write, surely I may read." 

Providence, April 13, 1786. 
Reverend and Dear Sir: 

Yours of the 21st and 27th ult. were long in coming to hand, and the reasons of my 
delaying to answer them were that I mistook one week in the time set for your sailing, 
and my having a number of letters to write and several diplomas to get ready to send 
to some gentlemen in England. All these I have enclosed to Rev. John Rippon, suc- 
cessor to Dr. Gill, who will take care to forward them as directed. I must beg the 
favor of you to see Mr. Rippon, and deliver them with your own hand. 

It was my intention to have seen you myself and brought Mrs. Manning down, who 
was exceedingly desirous of it, that we might have had the opportunity of a parting 
kiss ; but, unfortunately, my horse is disordered, and unable to perform the journey. 
Though denied the pleasure of one more interview with you here, I trust the grace and 
mercy of God will favor us with one infinitely more agreeable in a better world. You 
have my unworthy prayers for your own and your family's safety while on the ocean, 
and my sincere desires for your and their prosperity in your native country, from 
whence I shall ever rejoice to receive letters from you, and return the favor. I have 
been informed that you have been greatly abused in the Boston newspapers. You 
know that is a talent our neighbors there possess. They are ingenious to provoke. I 
am sorry your success in subscriptions is small here ; but such is the scarcity of money 
that many who wished to be possessors, and amongst the rest your humble servant, 
were necessitated to forego it. But I hope to see better times. Shall be proud to place 
Dr. Gordon's History of the American War in the College Library at Providence, as a 
token of his remembrance and friendship for that Institution. 

Don't imagine that I mean to exchange the sacred for the political character, because 
until the next November I have accepted an appointment of the State to a seat in Con- 
gress. It is purely with a view to obtain, if possible, a grant to compensate the rents 
and damages for the use of the Edifice by the public during the war.^ However 
strongly solicited, I have not the least idea of suffering my name to be used in a sub- 



1 Dr. Manning did not succeed In his endeavors. Fourteen years afterwards (April 16, 1800), 
through the exertions mainly of Mr. John Brown, Congress voted compensation, as we have stated 
in a previous chapter. 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 435 

sequent election. More than a thousand pounds is our just due from the public. With 
our small funds this is too much to lose. I wish with all my heart you may succeed to 
your wishes in returning to your native country. Mrs. Manning joins in her best 
regards to you and Mrs. Gordon. We wish you every facility which the sincerest 
friendship can dictate, both in time and eternity. 

I rest, yours, etc., in gospel bonds, 

James Manning. 

P. S. — By Mr. Brown, the wagoner, we received the box of books in good order, and 
I beg leave in the name and in behalf of the Corporation to present you the hearty 
thanks of the College for the donation. They are delivered to the Librarian, and 
ordered to be set up and your name to be enrolled amongst the benefactors of Rhode 
Island College. 

Jamks Manning, President. 



Dear Sir: 



To THE Rev. Dr. Hezekiah Smith. 

New York, 17th May, 178(i. 



Yours of the 27th ult. came safe to hand, for which I thank you, and should have 
answered it before had not my hands been full. Mrs. Manning informed me of the 
application to you to be my successor in the meeting at Providence. I should be happy 
in your society, and should Providence order your lot there, I shall while there con- 
tribute my best endeavors to render your life happy, and useful to the people ; but I 
think it best to interfere as little as may be with their determinations in settling a 
minister, as I conceive it might lessen my influence in his favor, after his settlement, 
should they have it in their power to say, when his support might be felt, that I was 
any means of it. Not that I hereby mean to excuse myself from doing my personal 
duty in that case, which I hope would be a pleasure. Should you accept of their invi- 
tation, your piety, I trust, would more than compensate the defect of politeness, — a 
high degree of which I cannot deem primarily essential in a gospel preacher, any more 
than distinguished rusticity. Habits of easiness in access, and gentle, unaffected man- 
ners, are most pleasing in that character. 

I hope you may have the pleasure to find that your labors at Providence are fol- 
lowed with a blessing. The Lord is doing wonders in this city and its vicinity, but 
especially in the Jerseys, at the Plains, Mountains, Piscataway, and Cranberry. I 
attend the June meeting. Mr. Runyan, on Saturday, baptized twelve ; the Sabbatarian 
minister three. Great power appeared to attend the preaching. Multitudes appeared 
deeply affected, and during the meeting several professed to be brought into gosi)el 
liberty. Such a meeting I believe was never seen at Piscataway before. I am told tiie 



436 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

Thursday following twelve were baptized at Quibbletown, and Lord's Day thirteen at 
the Plains. There appears a considerable turn in the minds of the people throughout 
that quarter. Mr. Wilson flames out and is remarkably blessed, and goes on preach- 
ing, exhorting, and baptizing from place to place with surprising success. The Lord 
indeed is doing great things in the land. 

Of your mother I can give no information, but presume she is living, otherwise Mr. 
Guthrie, or your brother Jeremiah, would have told me of her death. My situation 
here is indeed very awkward, without a colleague, without money, and in doubt what 
to resolve on. Our public affairs wear a cloudy aspect. I hope it is that the interposi- 
tion of Heaven may be seen in extricating us from difficulty. His former unmerited 
favor to this guilty land encourages me to hope for it though it should almost be 
against hope. 

The savages have begun their barbarous depredations on our western frontiers, but 
probably not without provocation from some of that lawless banditti which forms the 
van of those settlements. It is expected that, on investigation, this will be found true. 
Many of the innocent must doubtless be involved in ruin in consequence of it. The 
wretched, deranged finances of the Federal Government, will allow us, if disposed, to 
afford these people but feeble aid. 

I am treated with respect by Congress and the heads of departments. The present 
Congress possess great integrity, and a good share of abilities ; but for want of more 
states on the floor the pviblic and important business is from day to day neglected. "We 
are, however, in daily expectation of a fuller delegation. If personal matters could be 
so adjusted that I were not disquieted, I should be very happy in my situation here ; 
for I commonly preach once or twice on Lord's Days, either in town, on Long or Staten 
Island, or in the Jerseys. 

Please to present my best respects to Mrs. Smith and friends, and believe me to be 

Your old, unvarying friend, 

James Manning. 

The following letter from Dr. Drowne directed to the Hon. James 
Manning, D. D., member of Congress, New York, happily illustrates 
the politics of the times : — 

Providence, June 23, 1786. 
Dear Sir: 

I have the pleasure to inform you of the general health of your friends here, though 
the body politic labors under a threatening malady, the furor pecuniae nothae. The 
monstrous production has at length come to light, and we heartily wish it may come 
speedily to that other light spoken of by Longinus. This mock money is forced on 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 437 

some, taken by a few others ; but more generally refused in this town and Newport. 
Next week its fate will in some measure be decided. Should the General Assembly 
order a tax of about thirty thousand pounds, its circulation may be preserved awhile, 
otherwise it will inevitably perish. I am sorry your residence in New York should be 
rendered any way disagreeable to you, as I fear it must from your colleague's with- 
holding himself, and also from disappointment with respect to pecuniary supplies. 
But these are only a small part of the ills the statesman has to cope with. Thorny is 
the political path, and I am almost of the opinion of a celebrated Frenchman, that the 
man who devotes himself to i^olitics, from the vexations he must necessarily encounter, 
does not actually live as long as he whose mind is employed in contemplating the 
beauties of nature, or admiring the excellent productions of the fine arts. 

Wishing to make some of yoiir uncongressional hours agreeable, I would bring you 
acquainted with M. Otto, Charge des Affaires from the Court of Versailles. From the 
intimacy which subsisted between us on board the French Packet, I found him a man 
of good heart, of extensive knowledge, of obliging manners, and therefore a worthy 
companion. If you have already been introduced to M. Otto, yet I could wish a safe 
conveyance of the inclosed letter to him, as it contains a request, which, I expect, will 
draw a line from him. I must not forget to mention that I am blessed with another 
daughter. That you may be favored with health and success is the sincere wish of your 

Friend and humble servant, 

Solomon Drowne. 

The following letter which we find in Staples's " Rhode Island in 
the Continental Congress," presents a striking view of the difficulties 
of President Manning's position, and of the crisis in national affairs, 
which resulted in the National Convention of 1787, and the formation 
of the Federal Constitution : — 

To Governor Collins. 

New York, May 26, 1786. 

Sir: — Agreeably to the directions of the General Assembly, at their session in 
Greenwich, I proceeded to New York and took my seat in Congress, as a delegate, the 
2d of this month, in full expectation that General Miller would follow me in a few 
days, with the necessary supply of money to support us. But, to my surprise, I have 
not heard from the General since my departure from Rhode Island. Destitute of money 
to defray my necessary expenses, and at a loss to conjecture the reasons of the Gen- 
eral's delay, you must naturally conclude that my situation is far from being agreeable. 

I wish to be informed whether the State means to support a representative in Con- 



438 BKOWN UNIYEKSITY Chap. XII, 

gress or not, that I may act accordingly. My private purse will not support me here, 
and you, sir, know the expense attending this character too well to be informed that 
money in hand is necessary for the support of our tlelegation. Congress is highly 
displeased with the conduct of Rhode Island, in not sending forward her delegates. I 
have made the best apology I could for this neglect, but am obliged now to be silent,, 
as I have no advice on the subject. 

I think it my duty to inform you that this honorable Body is not a little alarmed at 
the present crisis ; with an empty treasury, while pressed on all sides for money ; the 
requisitions not complied with in many of the states ; the collection of taxes jjost- 
poned ; our trade embarrassed and almost prostrate ; and the Barbary powers fitting 
out more formidable armaments than ever sailed out of the Straits. Great Britain, 
too, through our Minister, has absolutely refused the surrender of the western ports, 
until the United States comply, on their part, with the fourth article of the treaty, 
which provides that British merchants shall be under no legal impropriety of recover- 
ing, in sterling money, their bona fide debts from the citizens of the United States. 
Against this article, since the passing of the money bill in our State, nine states in the 
Confederacy have passed acts, and several of the Indian tribes, as we learn from recent 
dispatches, have already commenced hostilities on our Western frontier. 

This is our deplorable situation, and Congress is obliged this day to adjourn for want 
of a sufficient number of states, to proceed in the necessary and most important busi- 
ness of the Confederacy. In a word, sir, all the old members have looked serious, and 
are alarmed for the safety of the Confederacy. A motion is made, and it is proposed to 
assign a day to go into the state of the nation, in a committee of the whole House, that 
we may send forward to the states without loss of time, the dangerous sitiiation of the 
Federal government, that they may acquit themselves of censure should disastrous 
events happen through the neglect of the states. This motion has only been post- 
poned for a fuller representation, as they were in daily expectation of having both 
Rhode Island and New Hampshire on the floor. 

I assure you, sir, that the above is not an exaggerated account, but done in the words 
of truth and soberness. We have lately been employed in reducing the expenses of the 
civil list, which we have done upwards of ten thousand dollars ; nor do we mean to 
stop here, but embrace every opportunity to retrench as much as possible the expenses 
of the Federal government. I have the pleasvire to inform you that I think the present 
delegation in Congress, Rhode Island apart, possess great patriotism, ability, and una- 
nimity, but the want of energy in the Federal government, and in the respective gov- 
ernments of the states is, by every true friend of this country, to be lamented. 
With the highest sentiments of esteem, 

Sir, your humble servant, 

James Manning. 



1T86-1TSS. AND MANNING. ; 439 

Dr. Manning's colleague was Brig. -Gen. Nathan Miller, of Warren. 
To him he thus writes, giving a graphic description of his own embar- 
rassed condition for want of funds, and urging him in the present crisis 
of affairs to take his seat as a delegate, and by his presence and influence 
aid in preventing an impending dissolution of the Federal Government. 
That Manning fully comprehended the great questions which agitated 
this Congress of 1786, and which finally led to a more perfect union of 
the states, is evident from his correspondence, and from the great inter- 
est which he felt and the efforts which he made to secure the adoption 
of the Constitution of the United States. 

New York, 7th of June, 1786. 
Dear Sir: 

I think if for a moment you wovild figure to yourself my situation, alone here for 
more than a month, reduced to the very last guinea and a trifle of change (which is the 
case) ; my lodging, washing, barber's, hatter's, tailor's bills, etc., not paid; without the 
favor of a single line from you advising me whether you mean to come or not, or send- 
ing forward the one hundred dollars on hand, which you proposed doing from the 
election if you were not likely to follow me soon, — I say if you would but realize my 
situation, you could not but pity me from your heart. I wrote you long since. I 
begged an answer from you, one way or another, that I might know what measures to 
take. But as I am now situated, I can neither stay nor go, except to the new City 
Hall, if my creditors exact it; and strangers have no more compassion on me than the 
State that appointed me. I must interest you to forward that sum of one hundred dol- 
lars, if no more can be had, by the first opportunity, with a line advising me of your 
real intentions. Matters highly interesting to this Confederacy, and indeed I think the 
question whether the Federal Government shall long exist, are now before Congress, 
and there are not states represented suflicient to transact the necessary business, as 
we now have barely nine states on the iioor. Our affairs are come very much to a point, 
and if the states continue to neglect keeping up their delegations in Congress, the Fed- 
eral Government must ipso facto dissolve. I have written the Governor on these sub- 
jects, and desired his answer, whether we should keep up our delegation or not. I shall 
wait till a reasonable time for an answer from you, and quit if I do not receive it. Send 
me by the post or i^ackets. Frank your letters by the post. I shall impatiently wait 
the event, and with sentiments of esteem, I have the honor to be, sir. 

Your humble servant, 

James Manning. 



440 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

To THE Same. 

New York, 12th of June, 1786. 
Sir: — Yours of 27tli ult. came to hand two days ago. Am mortified exceedingly 
that you have not come forward, nor sent on the money on hand ; for I am reduced to 
"but a few shillings, and my bills are not paid. My situation — without a colleague, 
without money, and without any instructions or favorable prospects from Government 
— is painful. Rhode Island has not many more strides to make to complete her dis- 
grace, and ruin too; but that is not all. She is likely to hold a distinguished rank 
amongst the contributors to the ruin of the Federal Government. Never, probably, was 
a full delegation of the states more necessary than now, for you may rest assured that 
in the opinion of every member of Congress, and in the several departments, things 
are come to a crisis with the Federal Government. You say you think the present 
House does not want a Congress ; the members may, it is more than probable, very soon 
see the accomplishment of their wishes ; for without a s^jeedy reform in the policy of the 
states, the Federal Government must be no more. The flagrant violations of the public 
faith, solemnly plighted, in the late emissions of paper money, on the conditions on 
which it is emitted, are here considered as the comijletion of our ruin as a nation : but I 
wrote you before on this subject; it is too painful to repeat. Pray send me on the 
money on hand, or come and bring it yourself, without loss of time; at least, write me 
by every vessel. With sentiments of esteem, I have the honor to be, sir, 

Your humble servant, 

James Manning. 

The following letter from the Rev. Dr. Gordon will be found 
especially interesting, in view of the author's position as a defender of 
America on English soil : — 

Stoke Nevvington, England, Sept. 13, 1786. 
My Dear Sir: 

I have apjpropriated a few of my busy moments to your friendship, on which I set a 
high value. You will have heard of our safe arrival. The passage was, blessed be 
God, good upon the whole, and though longer by a week or two than Ave could have 
wished, yet not lengthy. We were in London within sis weeks, lacking two days, after 
leaving Boston, and had a slight sea-sickness only the first day. Many of our friends 
and acquaintance, and some of our relations, had been removed; but we had the 
pleasure of finding as many still living as we could reasonably expect. I took care to 
deliver the parcel for Mr. Rippon safely, of which you will probably have received an 
account before this arrives. It would have been great pleasure to us to have seen you 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 441 

and Mrs. Manning before our departure ; but that having been prevented, I trust with 
you that the grace and mercy of God will favor us with an interview infinitely more 
agreeable in a better world. I am exceedingly busy upon my History, and when I have 
finished it shall not be unmindful of your College Library. The abuse in the public 
papers hindered the subscriptions very much. I hope, however, they will be made up 
in Britain. The beginning of next month I mean to have the proposals circulating; 
but am apprehensive that the book will not go to the press so early as I intended. 
Every one tells me that I must be extremely cautious how I word myself, in speaking 
of individuals in Britain, lest I should be prosecuted for libelling ; and prudence will 
require my advising with some gentleman learned in the law, that I may avoid falling 
into the clutches of the malevolent. You would wonder at the coolness with which I 
have been treated by several, even of my brethren in the ministry, for the part I took 
while in America; this, however, has not made me repent of engaging on the side of 
liberty. The Rev. Mr. Martin, of your persuasion, at the "Westminster end of the town, 
was a most bitter enemy to the Americans, as I have heard ; and one and another of 
the Presbyterians and Congregationalists were not less so, and would have rejoiced to 
have had the promoters and encouragers of the Revolution, whether in civil or sacred 
orders, hanged as rebels. But Heaven has disappointed and mortified them. They, 
however, spit out their venom at times. 

"We are at present with Mrs. Gordon's brother, who is exceedingly friendly. "Where 
we shall settle is wholly uncertain; but a kind Providence, I hope, will direct in much 
mercy. Should like to be in the neighborhood of London, for the benefit of correspond- 
ing with my American friends, and doing them any particular service. Such a situa- 
tion would place me also in the midst of my relations and British acquaintance. 
These matters, however, must all be submitted to infinite wisdom ; and I desire not to 
be at my own disposal and direction. 

"We have bsen favored with good health since our arrival. I am concerned that 
your State should be so overseen as to make paj^er money, etc. Such policy will never 
make you prosper, and instead of preserving will drive away property and plenty from 
you. The Americans must make all kinds of jjroperty secure, or confusion will follow. 
I am most hearty in wishing them virtuous and honorable, and am therefore pained 
when anything takes place that is prejudicial to their public character. Mrs. Gordon 
joins in best regards to self and Mrs. Manning. Remember me to Mr. Nicholas Brown, 
Mr. Benson, and other friends. Let me hear from you by the first opportunity. Direct 
to Mr. Field's, Ajjothecary, Newgate Street. I remain. 

Your sincere and affectionate friend, 

"William Gordon. 
56 



4.42 BEOWN" UNIVEESITY Chap. XII. 

This year the public exercises of Commencement were resumed. 
Fifteen young men took their Bachelor's degree. James Manning, a 
nephew of the President, had the Latin Salutatory, and Lemuel Kol- 
lock, of South Carolina, the Valedictory. The President was in New 
York, attending to his duties as a member of Congress, but his friend 
Smith, from Haverhill, was present, and on the succeeding Sabbath 
preached three sermons in the Baptist meeting-house. Among the 
fifteen who took this degree was also Nicholas Brown, Jr., after- 
wards the distinguished benefactor of the College. He was at this 
time but seventeen years of age, having entered the Freshman Class in 
1782, when the College again began to live. Mr. Brown commenced 
his benefactions in February, 1792, by presenting to the Trustees and 
Fellows of the College the sum of five hundred dollars, to be expended 
in the purchase of law books for the Library. This he did, in the lan- 
guage of the letter announcing the donation, "under a deep impres- 
sion of the generous intentions of my honored father, deceased, towards 
the College in this town, as well as from my own personal feelings 
towards the Institution, in which I received my education, and from a 
desire to promote literature in general, and in particular the knowledge 
of the laws of our country, under the influence whereof not only our 
property but our lives and dearest privileges are protected." In 1804 
he presented to the Corporation the sum of five thousand dollars, as a 
foundation for a professorship of oratory and belles-lettres. It was on 
this occasion, in consideration of this donation, and of others that had 
been received from him and his kindred, that the name of the Institu- 
tion was changed, in accordance Avith a provision in its charter, from 
Rhode Island College to Brown University. In 1822 he erected at his 
own expense the second college building, which he presented to the 
Corporation, in a letter bearing date Jan. 13, 1823. At his suggestion 
it was named "Hope College," in honor of his only surviving sister, 
Mrs. Hope Ives. In 1835 he erected the third building, which he also 
presented to the Corporation, with a request that it might be named 
"Manning Hall," in honor of the memory of his own distinguished 
instructor and revered friend. President Manning. Mr. Brown died 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. * 443 

Sept. 27, 1841, at the age of seventy-two. A discourse commemora- 
tive of his character and life was delivered by President Wayland, in 
the University Chapel, which discourse was afterwards published. The 
entire sum of his recorded benefactions and bequests to the University 
amounts to one hundred and sixty thousand dollars, assigning to the 
donations of land and buildings the valuation which was put upon them 
at the time they were made. 

"Many years," says Professor Gammell, "have now elapsed since 
he descended to the tomb, but the monuments of his wise and pious 
benefactions are all around us, — in the University with which his 
name is associated ; in the Butler Hospital for the Insane, and the 
Providence Athenteum, to whose founding he so largely contributed ; 
and in the churches and colleges and institutions of philanthropy over 
the whole land, to which he so often lent his liberal and most timely 
aid. So long as learning and religion shall have a place in the affec- 
tions of men, these enduring memorials will proclaim his character, and 
speak his eulogy. Hi sanctissimi testes, hi maximi laudatores.^^ 

A few years before his death, at the annual meeting of the Corpora- 
tion in 1835, Mr. Brown was formally requested to sit for his likeness, 
which was taken, at full length, by Harding, one of the most celebrated 
American artists. It now graces the collection of portraits in Sayles 
Memorial Hall. The visitor will gaze upon it with renewed interest as 
successive years roll on. It is greatly to be regretted that the portraits 
of his worthy sire and ancestors cannot be placed by its side. 

Returning now to our narrative, we learn from the following extract 
from a letter addressed by Mr. Nicholas Brown, senior, to the Rev. Dr. 
Hezekiah Smith, dated Nov. 9, 1786, that Dr. Manning resumed his 
accustomed duties at the College in the beginning of November of that 
year. The extract is introduced as an illustration, in part, of the diffi- 
culties with which the College had to contend, owing to the scarcity of 
money and the confused state of the times. 

Nicholas Brown to Dr. Smith. 
Mr. Manning arrived here early in this month, so tliat we have been destitute of a 
supply for the puljiit only two or three Sabbaths. The Coriioration were put to the 



444 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

necessity of beginning College exercises with the new tutor, young Mr. Flint, several 
clays after the scholars had arrived, Mr. Robbins having been detained at New London, 
waiting for a passage, until after Mr. Manning left. The worst of all is that we are 
still destitute of a steward, several having applied for the place who were not judged 
suitable, and several having been applied to who have declined. The want of some 
officer of College to attend the place of the Institution, will, I fear, be a disadvantage. 
But the hastiness of the pay heretofore, and the scarcity of money, the paper currency, 
and the confused state of law and justice, both in your State and in our own, where the 
scholars come from, are real difficulties. The fact, too, that the students are obliged to 
board out, instead of boarding in commons, has greatly increased the expenses. Yet, I 
believe, if due attention is paid by the officers, we shall have many students in, at least 
by next Commencement. 

Dr. Manning to the Rev. Dr. Smith. 

Providence, Jan. 18, 1787. 
Dear Sir : 

Yours of the 15th ult. came to hand a few days ago. Am happy to hear of your wel- 
fare, but am sorry to hear of Mrs. Smith's indisposition. Hope it has proved of short 
duration. About a month ago I was seized with a violent fit of the bilious colic, which 
confined me about a fortnight, and threatened my life. Through divine favor I am 
hajppily recovered, and we all enjoy usual health. The town is generally healthy. Mr. 
Nicholas Brown has lost his new-born son. Mr. Jonathan Jenckes is married to the 
■widow Bowers, who lived across the way. No late intelligence from the westward. 
Trade amongst us is very declining. Brown and Benson, by a seizure at Surinam, have 
lost four thousand dollars, and Jenckes, Winsor, and Co. about the same sum by the 
like means in Virginia. The paper money of this State has run down to six for one, not- 
withstanding which the Legislature continue it as a tender, and mean to do so, and to 
pay off all the State debts with it, be it as bad as it may. At the last session I peti- 
tioned them to pay my advances, and the remainder of my salary as delegate, amount- 
ing to upwards of four hundred dollars. This they offered to do in their paper, but in 
no other way. Besides, they have ordered all the impost orders brought in and 
exchanged at the treasury for paper at par, so that I must lose five-sixths of my salary 
so laaid to me. A more infamous set of men under the character of a legislature, never, 
I believe, disgraced the annals of the world. And there is no prospect of a change for 
the better. Of all the arrearages of tuition for the last year, and the quarter advanced 
in this, I have not received ten pounds. I was taken sick the day after the second 
great snow, with no provisions in the cellar except one hundred-weight of cheese, two 
barrels of cider, and some potatoes ; with not a load of wood at my door ; nor could I 
command a single dollar to su]3ply these wants. The kindness of my neighbors, how- 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 445 

ever, kept me from suffering. But when a man lias hardly earned money, to be reduced 
to this abject state of dependence requires the exercise of more grace that I can boast 
of. I feel for you in the situation which you mention, but it is a very trying time, and 
few of the ministering brethren are exempt from these trials. Nor would it probably 
be easy for you to better yourself. I have serious thought of removing to the farm at 
the Jerseys, and undertake digging for my support. Should things wear the same 
unfavorable aspect next year, I believe I shall make the experiment, if my life is 
spared. 

The College consists of about the same number as it did before Commencement, but 
the delinquency of the students in paying their bills must, if not altered, break up the 
College, as the affairs cannot be siapported, especially, as all assistance from our fund is 
cut off, if indeed it is not totally annihilated, which I greatly fear from the temper of 
the times. 

I completed your business at New York, I believe, agreeably to your wishes, and 
have your securities and papers all by me ready for your commands, but I did not 
choose to send them by an uncertain conveyance. You mention an agreeable journey 
last October, but don't tell me where. I think with you that there is something god- 
like in preaching to the poor, who cannot recompense us ; but it is our misfortune to be 
so generally of that number that we can only contemplate it. I supply the pulpit when 
able, but have had no application from the church, as such, to do it. Religion is 
extremely low with us, and confusion in State matters seems to increase. Please to 
present my best respects to Mrs. Smith and family, with all friends, in which Mrs. 
M. joins. 

Sir, yours, etc., 

James Manning. 

The language of Dr. Manning, as here applied to the Legislature of 
Rhode Island, may seem at first unnecessarily severe. A reference, 
however, to Governor Arnold's History of Rhode Island, and to our bio- 
graphical sketch of General Varnum, in his forensic effort in the cele- 
brated case of Trevett against Weeden, will show that it was merited 
and just. ^ This, perhaps, was the most trying period of Dr. Manning's 
life. That he should have had serious thoughts of engaging in agricul- 
ture for a support is by no means surprising. These, however, were 
but momentary, and soon passed away. Few men, with powers dis- 



iThe distress in Rhode Island at this period, in consequence of the miserable paper currency, 
■was so great, says Arnold, that farms were sold for one-quarter of their value. 



446 BROWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XII. 

tracted by care, and spirits saddened perhaps by a want of the comforts 
and conveniences of life, have ever labored more perseveringly, dili- 
gently, and cheerfully for the welfare of others, and for the public good, 
than Manning. 

The Commencement for 1787 seems to have been one of unusual 
interest, " a large, polite, and crowded assembly of gentlemen and 
ladies attending upon the exercises, and thus doing honor to the day 
and themselves by encouraging polite literature, and those useful arts 
which are the glory of civilized countries." Among the orations upon 
this occasion was one by Nathaniel Lambert,' on " The Present Appear- 
ance of Public Affairs in the United States of America — portraying 
the superior advantages to be enjoyed by this country, and the public 
happiness rationally to be expected, in case the states shall harmo- 
niously agree on the great federal measures necessary for the good of 
the whole, whereon the convention have been some time deliberating at 
Philadelphia, and recommending industry, the manufactures of our 
country, and the disuse of foreign goods ; and soliciting the fair 
daughters of America to set the patriotic example by banishing from 
their dress the costly gewgaws and articles of foreign production." 
Doubtless the worthy President had something to do with the selection 
of this topic, and its happy treatment. 

The graduates numbered ten ; at the head of whom, on the Tiien- 
nial, stands the name of Abner Alden, master of the famous school at 
Paynham, Mass., and author of the "Reader" and "The Spelling- 
book" which supplied our ancestors in the Old Colony with the 
"rudiments" half a century ago. Mr. Alden was of the fifth genera- 
tion in lineal descent from John Alden, of whom and Priscilla Mullins 
Longfellow sings. Among them, too, we notice Samuel Eddy,^ for many 



1 Hon. Samuel Eddy, LL. D., was born in Johnston, R. I., March 31, 1769. After his graduation 
lie read law, but he never practised it. In 1798 he was elected by the people of Rhode Island Secre- 
tary of State, which office he held for twenty-one years in succession. Resigning the secretary- 
ship, he was elected, for three terms, from 1819 to 1825, a Representative in Congress. Subsequently 
he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Rhode Island, which position 
he occupied for eight years, when ill health compelled him to resign. He died Feb. 3, 1839, in 
the seventieth year of his age. Judge Eddy was justly respected for his uprightness and intelli- 
gence, and for the extent and variety of his attainments. He was no debater, says Professor God- 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 447 

years a Fellow and Secretary of the Corporation, and Jonathan Maxcy, 
President Manning's successor in office. Mr. Maxcy^ delivered a poem 
on the prospects of America, and the valedictory oration. 



darci, but he wrote with uncommon purity, accuracy, and force. Tlie volumes of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society are enriched witli several contributions from his pen. He was thrice married. 
His last wife was Mrs. Sarah Dwight, widow of Gamaliel Lyman Dwight, and daughter of the Hon. 
David Howell. She survived him many years, dying at an advanced age. 

1 Rev. Jonathan Maxcy, D.D., was born in Attteboro, Mass., Sept. 2, 1768. Immediately upon 
graduating, at the early age of nineteen, he was appointed Tutor in the College, which position he 
tilled with great acceptance four years, or until 1791, when he was chosen pastor of the Baptist 
church. In 1792 he assumed the duties of the Presidency of the College, having been elected Presi- 
dent 2"'o tempore. In 1797 he was formally elected President, as appears from the records of the 
Corporation. "The splendor of his genius, and his brilliant talents as an orator and divine," says 
Dr. Blake, " had become widely known ; and under his administration the College acquired a repu- 
tation for belles-lettres and eloquence inferior to no seminary of learning in the United States." 
" His voice," says the Hon. Tristam Burges, one of his most devoted and admiring pupils, " seemed 
not to have reached the deep tone of full age ; but most of all to resemble that of those concerning 
whom the Saviour of the world said, ' of such is the kingdom of heaven.' The eloquence of Maxcy 
was mental. You seemed to hear the soul of the man ; and each one of the largest assembly, in the 
most extended place of worship, received the slighest impulse of his silver voice as if he stood at 
his very ear. So intensely would he enchain attention, that in the most thronged audience you 
heard nothing but him and the pulsations of your own heart. His utterance was not more perfect 
than his whole discourse was instructive and enchanting." 

In the year 1802, Dr. Maxcy, having resigned his office, was appointed President of Union Col- 
lege, Schenectady, N. Y.. as successor of the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Edwards, deceased. In reference 
to this appointment, we find in Forsyth's Memoir of the Rev. Dr. Alexander Proudflt (pp. 55-59) a 
curious and interesting letter from the Rev. J. B. Johnson, then of Albany, and a Trustee of the 
College, objecting to Maxcy on the ground of his being a Baptist, and hence that his influence as 
such would be unpropitious to the prosperity of the Institution, the support of the College being 
derived chiefly from those who were opposed to the Baptist persuasion, and perhaps had no incon- 
siderable prejudice against them. Another objection was that he appeared to the writer to be a 
violent politician, judging from a Fourth-of-July oration delivered by hira, which had been praised 
as containing some very brilliant expressions and keen sarcasms against the Anti-Federalists. A 
third and more serious objection, however, was the unsoundness of his theological opinions, of 
which the following extract from the preface to his sermon on the death of Manning, republished 
in June, 1796, was quoted as an illustration : " The only thing essential to Christian union is love, 
or benevolent affection. It is, therefore, with me, a fixed principle to censure no man except for 
immorality. A diversity of religious opinions, in a state so imperfect, obscure, and sinful as the 
present, is to be expected. An entire coincidence in sentiment, even in important doctrines, is by 
no means essential to Christian society, or the attainment of eternal felicity. How many are there, 
who appear to have been subjects of regeneration, who have scarcely an entire comprehensive 
view of one doctrine of the Bible? Will the gates of paradise be barred against these because they 
did not possess the penetrating sagacity of an Edwards or a Hopkins? Or shall these great theo- 
logical champions engross heaven, and shout hallelujahs from its walls, while a Priestley, a Price, 
and a Winchester, merely for ditterence in opinion, though preeminent in virtue, must sink into 
the regions of darkness and pain?" 

Notwithstanding these objections. Dr. Maxcy, as we have already stated, was chosen President 
of the College. Previoiis to this event, when only thirty-three years of age. Harvard University 
had conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity, such was his celebrity as a 
scholar and divine. Here at Schenectady he officiated with increasing reputation until 1804, when 



448 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

The fears and forebodings of Dr. Manning in regard to the Confed- 
eration proved but too well founded. Notwithstanding the efforts of 
the wisest statesmen, it was found inefficient to promote social order, 
and all those paramount interests which it is the design of government 
to foster and protect. Accordingly, in 1787, a national convention met 
at Philadelphia, and proposed a union of the states upon a more sub- 
stantial and popular basis, in order that the blessings of freedom might 
be preserved. A small number of the states adopted the New Con- 
stitution, so called, without hesitation, but in most of them it met with 
great opposition.^ Especially was this the case in Massachusetts, where 
the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, as the friends and enemies of the 
Constitution were pleased to style themselves, were nearly equal in 
number. The convention for the adoption or rejection of this impor- 
tant instrument met at Boston, on Wednesday, the 9th of January, 
1788. It was composed of nearly four hundred delegates, represent- 
ing the talent and patriotism of the ancient commonwealth, as well as 
the conflicting interests of opposing parties. The debates were con- 
tinued nearly a month, and attracted the most profound attention 



he accepted the unsolicited appointment of President of South Carolina College, with the fond 
anticipation of finding a warmer climate more congenial to his physical constitution. Over this 
latter institution he presided, with almost unprecedented popularity, during the remainder of his 
life. He died at Columbia, S. C, June 4, 1820, aged fifty-two years. 

In his person Dr. Maxcy was small of stature, but of a fine and well-proportioned figure. His 
features, says his biographer, were regular and manly, indicating intelligence and benevolence, 
and, especially in conversation and public speaking they were strongly expressive. Grace and 
dignity were also combined in all his movements. His writings, or " Literary Remains," edited by 
the Rev. Dr. Romeo Elton, were published in 1844, in a handsome octavo volume. Eight years later 
a selection from his " Remains," consisting of collegiate adch-esses, was published in London, mak- 
ing a pleasant little duodecimo volume of one hundred and ninety-one pages. This was edited by 
Dr. Elton. Dr. Maxcy was married to Susan, daughter of Commodore Esek Hopkins, of Provi- 
■ dence, a name intimately associated with the history of the Revolution. Besides several daughters, . 
they had four sons, all liberally educated, His brother, the Hon. Virgil Maxcy, was killed by the 
explosion of a gun on board the United States steamship Princeton. 

No painted canvas or sculptured marble perpetuates the likeness of President Maxcy ; but so 
long, says Elton, " as genius, hallowed and sublimed by piety, shall command veneration, he will be 
remembered in his country as a star of the first magnitude." 

1 In Virginia the contest lasted more than three weeks, Patrick Henry speaking against the Con- 
stitution with a power and vehemence never surpassed by him on any previous occasion. It was 
finally adopted by a majority of ten. In New Hampshire it was ratified by eleven majority, and in 
the great State of New York by a bare majority of three, after the Convention had been in session 
more than a month. 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 449 

throughout the country. Upon the fate of the Federal Constitution 
here, it was supposed, depended the fate of the National Government ; 
or, as Manning expresses it, Massachusetts was considered "the hinge 
on which the whole must turn." As an evidence of the deep interest 
which he felt in this momentous question, we quote from Mr. How- 
land's Memoir the following passage : — 

Dr. Manning was extremely solicitous for ratification. He viewed the situation 
of the countrj^ with all the light of a statesman and a philosopher, and as a prudent 
and well-informed citizen he took his measures accordingly. He had saved the College 
funds through the fluctuations and storms of one revolution, and he now saw them 
dissipated and lost forever, unless the new form of government should be established. 
He knew that several clergymen with whom he was connected in the bonds of religious 
union were members of the convention, and that they were generally opposed to the 
ratification. He therefore repaired to Boston, and attended the debates and proceed- 
ings of the convention. His most valued and intimate friend, the Rev. Dr. Stillman, 
was one of the twelve representatives from the town of Boston in the convention, and 
zealous for the adoption ; and in their frequent intercourse with their friends who 
were members, they endeavored to remove the objections of such as were in the oppo- 
sition With the Rev. Isaac Backus, who was a delegate from the town of Middle- 
borough, and considered one of the most powerful men of the Anti-Federal party, 
they were not able to succeed. The question of ratification was finally carried, by a 
majority of nineteen (one hundred and eighty-seven yeas, and one hundred and sixty- 
eight nays), after a full and able discussion. The writer of these sketches well recol- 
lects the cordial congratulations with which Dr. Manning greeted his friends on the 
decision of the convention, after his return from Boston. 

Mr. Howland is in error respecting Backus, as the following extract 
from his diary, which we find in Weston's edition of his history (vol. 2, 
page 335) shows. It will repay careful perusal in this connection : — 

A new Constitution of the United States of America was finished at Philadelphia, 
Sept. 17, 1787 ; and our town met on December 17th and chose four delegates to meet 
in Boston, Jan. 9, 1788, with others in convention, to establish or reject it; of which 
delegates I was the first, without the least motion of mine that way. When I was first 
informed of it, on December 20th, I thought I should not go, but as religious liberty is 
concerned in the affair, and many were earnest for my going, I consented, and went as 
far as Elder Briggs's, January 14th, and into Boston January 15th, and met with the 
57 



450 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

convention that day and tbe next in the State House, but as we had not room enough 
there, we removed, the 17th, to Mr. Belknap's meeting-house, in Long Lane,^ where we 
continued our meetings from day to day, until the Constitution was ratified, on Feb- 
ruary 6th, by a hundred and eighty-seven yeas against a hundred and sixty-eight nays, 
being a majority of nineteen. Each delegate had.full liberty, in his turn, to say all he 
pleased, by means of which I obtained much more light about the extensive affairs of 
our country, the nature of the proposed Constitution, and the security of the rights 
of the people therein, than I had when I went from home, and therefore voted for it. 
And yet Elder Alden of Bellingham, Elder Rathbun of Pittsfield, Elder Tingley of 
Waterbury, County of York, all voted against it, and so did two-thirds of the Baptist 
members of the convention, of which there were above twenty. Elder Stillman and I, 
■with twelve Congregational ministers, voted for it, though, doubtless, with very 
different views. The exclusion of any hereditary, lordly power, and of any religious 
test, I view as our greatest securities in this Constitution ; but perhaps many mean no 
more thereby than the exclusion of siich lordship as they have in England, and of 
requiring any assent to any prescribed forms of faith or worship. 

In connection with the facts stated by Howland, we cannot forbear 
to add an incident mentioned by Dr. Waterhouse, which we find quoted 
by Professor Goddard. On the last day of the session of the conven- 
tion, and before the final question was taken, the President, Governor 
Hancock, invited Dr. Manning to " close the solemn convocation with 
thanksgiving and prayer." Dr. Manning, though taken by surprise, 
immediately dropped on his knees, and poured out his heart in a strain 
of exalted patriotism and fervid devotion, v,^hich awakened in the assem- 
bly a mingled sentiment of admiration and awe. The impression which 
he made must have been extraordinary ; for, says Dr. Waterhouse, who 
dined in a large company, after the adjournment, "the praise of the 
Rev. Dr. Manning was in every mouth. Nothing but the popularity of 
Dr. Stillman prevented the rich men of Boston from building a church 
for Dr. Manning's acceptance." 

In the following letter Manning alludes to his attendance upon the 
debates of the Massachusetts Convention : — 



1 On the clay of the ratification, says McMaster, " the Long Lane that ran by the meeting-house 
where the convention sat lost its name, and has ever since been called Federal Street." 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 451 

To THE Rev. Dr. Hezekiah Smith. 

Providence, Feb. 11, 1788. 

My Dear Sir: — This morning was handed me yoixr agreeable favor of the .30th ult. 
I am happy to hear that you and yours enjoy health ; but sori-y that with me you have 
cause to complain of the low state of religion. To be useful, is and must be the wish of 
every good man; but perhaps we may not always be the most competent judges of our 
usefulness. God may be doing that by us, which we little think of, that may redound 
to his glory. One or two, I hope, have lately met with a change amongst us, and 
there appears a greater degree of attention than for some time past. I continue still 
to preach to the people as a supply, till Mr. Stanford, from New York, arrives, whom 
the church and congregation have unanimously chosen their pastor. He is expected as 
soon as winter breaks. He paid us a visit at the invitation of the committee last 
Christmas, and spent two Lord's Days with us to great acceptance. He was to have 
been with us by the middle of this month, but had a three weeks passage back. Elder 
Asa Hunt called on me last week on his way from Virginia, where he has been for sev- 
eral months, having travelled seven hundred miles in that state, and preached, I 
think, seventy times. He brings refreshing tidings of the work of the Lord there, and 
of the great increase of our churches. Two most agreeable letters I received from 
respectable ministers there, of whom I had not before heard. One of them mentions 
that there are about one hundred Baptist churches in that state, averaging each at 
least one hundred members. Great additions are daily making to them, and they call 
aloud for ministers of education. I never wanted to visit that country so much as 
now. 

The College continues gradually to increase. The expense of boarding in commons, 
tuition, room-rent, and library and apparatus privileges, granting one-fourth of the 
year for vacations, amounts to just £20 5s. 9d. lawful money (about sixty-eight dollars) 
at present, but I expect the commons will be lowered as soon as stability in govern- 
ment takes place, — a period I now hope not far distant. "Wood is about twelve shil- 
lings per cord ; and other incidental expenses as moderate here, or more so, than at 
Dartmouth. Two of our young men the Commencement before were at Dartmouth, 
Governor Bowen's son and Mr. Nicholas Brown's son, who made particular inquiry, 
and they assure me that the expense of living equally well was greater there than here. 
I make not a doubt but he would find his account in coming to Providence, and we 
should be happy to receive him and do well by him. I hope to have more particulars 
of your last fall tour. The reason of Brother Gano's leaving New York, is want of an 
adequate support, which fails through the opposition of a certain Mr. Robbins and liis 
adherents in that church, who wish to govern it in their own way. 



452 BKOWN UNIYEESITY Chap. XII. 

I felt so deeply interested in tlie adoption of the new Federal Constitution by your 
state, that I attended the debates in convention more than a fortnight, and expected to 
have seen you at Boston on that occasion. I considered Massachusetts the hinge on 
which the whole must turn, and am happy in congratulating you on the favorable 
issue of their deliberations. I am mortified to find Father Alden among the nays. 
The good work at New London and its vicinity, I am told, increases, and has spread to 
Norwich ; and there is a great awakening where Grow used to preach, and in Canada 
Parish. Please to present my best respects to Mrs. Smith and family and other friends, 
in which Mrs. Manning joins with, dear sir. 

Yours, 

James Manning. 

From this time Dr. Manning held no political office, although he 
always took a prominent part in public affairs, and was thoroughly 
familiar with the discussions and controversies of the day. The final 
adoption of the Federal Constitution by the people of Rhode Island, 
notwithstanding the persistent and bitter hostility of its opponents, 
who were mostly residents of the country towns and villages, was a 
result due in no small measure, doubtless, to his wise counsels and 
superior influence. How bitter and determined was the hostility may 
be learned from the following statement made by the Hon. Rowland 
Hazard in his oration delivered at the laying of the corner stone of 
the new State House, Thursday, Oct. 15, 1896 : — 

On the 24th of June, 1788, the news was received at Providence that New Hampshire 
had ratified the Constitution. The partisans of ratification proposed to celebrate the 
occasion. New Hampshire was the ninth state; her ratification made the final adop- 
tion certain. Preparations were made on a large scale to make a double celebration on 
the approaching Fourth of July. A whole ox was to be roasted and speeches were to 
be made. The place selected was on the north side of the cove, just below where we 
now stand. But a protest came up from all the country parts of the State. The night 
before the day fixed for the barbecue, over one thousand armed men marched to this 
hill, determined to stop the merrymaking. A parley ensued, and the celebration was 
finally allowed to proceed with the understanding that it was to celebrate the Declara- 
tion of Independence only. No allusion was to be made to the ratification of the Con- 
stitution. With this compromise the ox was roasted, general hilarity prevailed, and 
the country and city were harmonized. 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 453 

We present Dr. Manning's correspondence for the remainder of the 
year, commencing with a letter from the Rev. Dr. Rippon, of London. 

London, Feb. 14, 1788. 
Reverend and Dear Sir : 

I have but a few minutes to spare this forenoon, which should have been devoted to 
your service, having passed in company, vsrhich unexpectedly has detained me. How- 
ever, I most sincerely thank you for the short but comprehensive sketch of religious 
affairs commitnicated in your last of September, 1787, and also for your respectful 
introduction of the Selections* at the Chelmsford Association. The first edition of 
three thousand is gone, except about fifty books, and the second edition, I hope, will be 
quite printed off in April next. In case it meets with the approbation of our American 
brethren, and there is any probability of its spread, would it be against any rule of your 
Association to advertise the second edition? I have mentioned this to one or two 
brethren on your side of the water. No book printed in any time has had so rapid a 
sale among the Baptists as this. 

With this please to accept a pamjjhlet or two, by which you will see in some measure 
what we are about in this country. The three denominations of Presbyterians, Inde- 
pendents, and Anti-Pedobaptists in this city are united together by a political bond. 
"We met about a week since, and drew up a petition to Parliament for the abolition of 
the slave trade. The meeting was i^erfectly unanimous. We fear that there will be 
great opposition to the petition, but we hope to prevent the importation of any more 
slaves, from Africa at least. The petitions to be pi-esented by clerical and political 
bodies are likely to be numerous and very general. While so many thousands are 
nobly engaged in this, the cause of humanity, may you succeed in your own peculiar 
career, distinguished from every other by a " glory that excelleth." 

You mention the number of sixty students. Of what advantage may the wise and 
good among these be, not only to the present but futiire generations! Long may you 
live, and under your auspices may the College enjoy j^our felicity ; and in a remote 
period, when the public prints announce that Dr. Manning was, may it be said, " He 
shone through a long-lengthened day, the ornament and boast of all his connections, and 
then set, like the sun, to rise and shine forever." 

Indeed, dear sir, I do feel a great union of heart to you, and to many of our brethren 



1 " A Selection of Hymus from the best authors, intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts's 
Psalms and Hj'inns. By John Rippon, A. M." 12mo. London. Printed by Thomas Watkins ; and 
sold on week-days at the vestry of Mr. Rippon's meeting-house. 1787. A copy of the second edi- 
tion, with the portrait of the author for the frontispiece, is in the writer's possession. It was a 
presentation copy from Dr. Rippon to Mrs. Manning. 



454 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

on your side of the Atlantic. It would be an unutterable joy were it in my power to do 
them any service, but if I can show my love to them no other way, 

" My soul shall pray for Zion still, 
While life or breath remains ; 
There niy best friends, my kindred dwell, 
There God my Saviour reigns." 

Mr. Stillman's account of Miss Stillman's death was very affecting, and edifying. 
How plain it is that true religion is produced in the heart of good men by " the self- 
same spirit! " 

I shall rejoice to have a long letter from you, as you would have had from me, but 
for the reason mentioned before. I have not time to read this scrawl, but I should 
suppress some of the first emotions of my mind, were I not to subscribe myself ever, 
ever very affectionately, 

Your obliged brother in Christ, 

John Rippon. 
P. S. — Please to remember me to Doctor Drowne. I hope to write him, and shall be 
very glad to receive a line from him. 

To THE Rev. Thomas Ustick, Philadelphia. 

Providence, Aug. 21, 1788. 
My Dear Brother: 

Yours of June 10th was long in coming, but is now before me. I am glad to hear 
that you are so happily restored as to be able to preach to the people, but sorry that 
you have reason to complain of the low state of religion amongst you. I hope you may 
see better days in Philadelphia. It is a complaining time, in general, among ministers. 
Perhaps they, themselves, if properly engaged, might[in part prevent the cause of it. 
My own difficulties, I know, call for the exercise of Christian fortitude, but I find it 
easier to talk of than to exercise it. I thank you, however, for the just remarks con- 
tained in your letter. I agree with you that the gospel is an estimable jewel, which we 
cannot too highly prize. May we be properly anointed by the glorious hopes which it 
is calculated to inspire. 

Brother Caleb Blood, of Newtown, is the person whom I mentioned to have removed 
to Vermont. Our Brother Joseph Grafton of this town and church, is ordained and 
settled in his place, whose labors appear to be owned amongst the people. He was 
here last week. Elders Backus, Hunt, and Williams have lately visited us, who are 
well. I am told there is a happy revival at Bridgewater, under the ministry of Brother 
Robinson. Nothing new respecting the College has occurred since our last. Possibly 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 455 

I may see you this fall at Philadelphia, as I have thoughts of visiting New York. 

Please to make my best respects to Mrs. Ustick and the family, in which Mrs. Manning 

unites, with, dear sir, 

Your unworthy brother, 

James Manning. 

To THE Rev. Dr. Hezekiah Smith. 

Providence, June 10, 1788. 
Dear Sir: 

Yours of the 6th inst. came to hand a few hours since,. by Mr. Messer.^ We have 
examined and entered the young gentleman into the Sophomore class, though he had 
not read quite so much as the class. His abilities and proficiency appear very good ; 



1 Rev. Asa Messer, D. D., LL. D. He was born in Methuen, Mass., in the year 1769. His father 
was a farmer on the banks of the Merrimac. At the age of thirteen he left the town school in his 
native place, and went to bve in Haverhill, where for nearly a year he was clerk in a wholesale 
grocery store. Having given up his clerkship, he studied for several years under the instruction 
of Rev. Dr. Smith, and in 1788, as Manning here states, entered the Sophomore class. In his diary, 
under date of Monday, June 2, Smith writes : — " Then Asa Messer quit his learning with me to go to 
college." It is no small compliment to his instructor, that in the midst of his duties as the pastor 
of a large and flourishing church, and after six years in the army as a brigade chaplain, he not only 
fitted his pupil for college, but also taught him advanced studies, so that he entered at the close 
nearly of the second year. He was graduated in 1790. Soon afterwards he became interested in 
religious truth, was baptized, and received into the fellowship of the church in Providence, of 
which Dr. Maxcy was then i)astor. By this church he was, in 1792, licensed to preach, and in 1801 
he received ordination. He was elected a tutor of the College in 1791, and remained in this office 
till he was elected, in 179C, Professor of the Learned Languages. In 1799 he was appointed Pro- 
fessor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy ; and this station he continued to hold until the 
resignation of Dr. Maxcy, in 1802, when he was chosen President. For twenty-four years he pre- 
sided over the .affairs of the College; diligently and efficiently participating in the duties of 
instruction, and supervising, with no common practical sagacity, its disordered finances. In 1826 
he resigned the office of President. Possessing, says his biographer, a handsome competence, the 
fruit in part of his habitual frugality, he was enabled to pass the remainder of his life in the 
enjoyment of independent leisure. After his retirement from collegiate toils, his fellow-citizens 
of Providence elected him, for several years, to responsible municipal trusts ; and these trusts he 
discharged with his characteristic punctuality and uprightness. He died Oct. 11, 1836, in the 
sixty-eighth year of his age. 

Dr. Messer was married to Deborah Angell, by whom he had four children, a son that died in 
infancy, and three daughters. The youngest daughter was married to the late Hon. Horace Mann, 
and the second to Sidney Williams, Esq., of Taunton, Mass. Mr. Williams resided for many years 
on the paternal estate. The eldest daughter was never married. 

Dr. Messer's " religious opinions," says Professor Goddard, " especially for the last twenty years 
of his life, corresponded nearly to those of the General Baptists of England. He was a strenuous 
advocate for the supremacy of the Scriptures, and for their entire sufficiency in matters of faith 
and practice. As a preacher, he wanted the attractive graces of elocution; but he never failed to 
address to the understanding and the conscience the most clear and cogent exhibitions of the 
great practical truths of the Bible. For what is termed polite literature he had no particular 
fondness, but he was a good classical scholar, and was well versed in the mathematics and the 
several branches of natural philosophy. In moral science, also, we have known few better reason- 



456 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

and from your commendation of liim we hope he will do well. Am obliged to you for 
your interest in forwarding him. 

I rejoice to hear of the Lord's work at Byfield and Rowley. Hope it may become 
universal. Then Haverhill and Providence will receive a blessing. Am surprised 
that mine in answer to yours of March 17th, and every other I have received, has not 
reached you. I have been punctual in writing, and giving you all the information I 
could. Our wicked State has rejected the Constitution by the town meetings to which 
the Legislature sent it, instead of complying with the recommendation of the General 
Convention. Our rulers are deliberately wicked, but the people of some of the towns 
begin to wake up since South Carolina has adopted the new Constitution, and Massa- 
chusetts has so effectually crushed Shayism. My visit to New York was very short 
and full of business, so that I did not go to visit one of my brothers or sisters, though I 
was at the Plains. My object was to assist Brother Gano off for Kentucky, which took 
up all my time. I heard from none of your friends. Indeed, I had no opportunity. 
Mr. Gano with his family left the Plains the first Wednesday in May. Many families 
of his people, Mr. Van Horn's and Mr. Hart's, are gone also, and more are proposing. 
A surprising spirit of emigration prevails there. The church at New York is without 
a supply, and probably will be for a time. Mr. Stanford is still very acceptable to all 
evangelical hearers. The house is pretty full, but he meets with some trials. Two 



ers or more successful teachers. In fine, Dr. Messer was remarkable rather for the vigor than the 
versatility of his powers; rather for solid acquirement than for captivating embellishments; 
rather for wisdom than for wit ; rather for grave processes of ratiocination than for the airy 
frolics of fancy. In 1824 he received from Harvard University the honorary degree of Doctor of 
Divinity, having previously received the same degree from his A.lma Matek, and that of Doctor 
of Laws from the University of Vermont." 

" I cannot remember," says the Rev. Dr. E. A. Park, in a recent letter which he furnished for 
Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, " the time when I was not familiar with the countenance 
of President Messer. Before I entered college I saw him every week, and while I was a member 
of college I saw him every day ; and no one who has ever seen him can ever forget him. His indi- 
viduality was made unmistakable by his physical frame. This, while it was above the average 
height, was also in breadth an emblem of the expansiveness of his mental capacity. A ' long 
head ' was vulgarly ascribed to him, but it was breadth that marked his forehead ; there was an 
expressive breadth in his maxillary bones ; his broad shoulders were a sign of the weight which 
he was able to bear; his manner of walking was a noticeable symbol of the reach of his mind; he 
swving his cane far and wide as he walked, and no observer would doubt that he was an independ- 
ent man; he gesticulated broadly as he preached; his enunciation was forcible, now and then over- 
whelming, sometimes shrill, but was characterized by a breadth of tone and a prolonged emphasis 
which added to its momentum, and made an indelible impress on the memory. His pupils, when 
they had been unfaithful, trembled before his expansive frown, as it portended a rebuke which 
would well-nigh devour them ; and they felt a dilating of the whole soul when they were greeted 
with his good and honest and broad smile. . . . As a sou, brother, husband, father, he was the 
central object of attraction, and the beams of joy and love uniformly radiated from him over all 
the inmates of his happy home." 

A fine portrait him has recently been added to the collection in Sayles Memorial Hall. 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 457 

weeks ago Mr. Alison of Bordentown paid us a visit, and entered a yonug gentleman 
in the Junior Class. 

The College has more students than ever it had ; consequently my services are 
greater than ever. Our oldest tutor, Robhins, has been unable to do any duty since 
last December, and is gone to Connecticut, five weeks since, from whom we have had 
no certain accounts. I doubt his ever being well again, or taking his place in College. 
So you see I must deny myself the pleasure of attending the New Hampshire Associa- 
tion. The state of religion in New York is not as promising as in times past. Near 
Peekskill and higher up it flourishes, and so it does in the Jerseys under the ministry of 
Brother Wilson. The New York church has sent out a flaming young preacher, Tommy 
Montague, who outshines us all they say. I think the church at New York has some 
thovights of Brother Foster at Newport, and he of them. He visits them by request in 
July. My spring letters from London bring nothing of importance now, except the 
completion of the second edition of Mr. Booth's treatise on Baptism, which is much 
enlarged. I have not perused it. My best love to Mrs. Smith and family, in which, as 
well as to yourself and all friends, Mrs. Manning cordially unites with, dear sir. 

Yours, etc., 

James Manning. 

The Commencement for this year occurred on Wednesday, Septem- 
ber 3d. As the day, says the passing record, was fine, so the concourse 
of people was prodigious. The procession — composed of the Corpora- 
tion and officers, of the graduates and students, of the clergy and other 
literati, who attended from abroad in greater numbers than ever before 
— began in the usual order at College, about eleven o'clock in the 
morning, and was escorted to the Baptist meeting-house by the gal- 
lant company of artillery commanded by Colonel Tillinghast. In look- 
ing over the exercises on this occasion, we notice, besides the salutatory 
oration in Latin, an oration in Hebrew on the eloquence of the Scrip- 
tures, an oration in French on letters in general, an oration in Greek 
on the importance of encouraging genius, a dialogue in blank verse on 
the situation and prospects of America, and a comic dialogue to ridicule 
false learning. As was the custom at all the earlier Commencements 
of the College, the exercises were continued through the day, with a 
recess at noon. The valedictory oration was pronounced by Amos 
Maine Atwell, of Providence. Among those who graduated on this 

58 



458 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. XII. 

occasion was James Burrill,^ who for sixteen years was successively 
elected, amid all the vicissitudes and competitions of party, to the 
responsible office of Attorney-General of Rhode Island, and was after- 
wards a member of the United States Senate. 

From the Rev. Morgan Edwards. 

Philadelphia, Aug. 18, 1788. 
My Old Acquaintance: 

I am now thinking how long it is since you and I have seen eacli other's face_ or 
perused each other's letters; and what the reason is, and whose fault (if a fault) it is. 
But as the inquiry hardly deserves a decision, I let all pass in silence, that I may pro- 
ceed to inquire after your present state of health. I hope this will find you in a com- 
fortable situation ; at least I wish it may. I feel as well and as strong as an old man 
of sixty-seven years can expect to be. 

Some years ago I sent you a manuscript- ; whether you received it or not I cannot 
say. It was a collection of some historical facts relative to the Baptists. If you have 
the book, jjlease return it to me as soon as conveniency offers. Herewith I send you a 



1 Hon. James Burrill, LL.D., was born in Providence in 1772. He was prepared for College by 
William Wilkinson, Esq., then an eminent classical and mathematical teacher in that town. He 
graduated at the early age of sixteen, and, after completing his professional studies, commenced, 
at the age of nineteen, the practice of law in his native town. So rapid was his rise at the bar, 
that, at the age of twenty-flve, he was elected by the people to the office of Attorney-General, and 
this office he continued to hold for about sixteen years, until bodily infirmity compelled him to 
retire from the bar. In 1816 he was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 
and a few months afterwards a Senator in Congress. He attended only four sessions of that body, 
— his valuable life having been prematurely terminated by a pulmonary disease, Dec. 25, 1820, in 
the forty-ninth year of his age. "During his short career in Congress," says Professor Goddard, 
" Mr. Burrill won for himself a very high rank. To the Senate of the United States there perhaps 
never had belonged a more useful legislator or a more practical statesman. All who knew Mr. 
Burrill marvelled at the opulence of his resources, and at his power to command them at pleasure. 
In the operations of his mind there was no indication of excess, of feebleness, or of confusion. On 
the contrary, he was alwaj's judicious, luminous, and forcible, — master of an infinite variety of 
facts and principles, and ever ready in applying them. He seldom wrote, although he was capable 
of writing well ; and it is sad to think that his fame, as a lawyer and as a statesman, must soon 
become only a matter of dim traditionary recollection." James Burrill Angell, a distinguished 
graduate of the College, in the class of 1849, and the able President of the University of Michigan, 
at Ann Arbor, was named from this graduate of 1788. 

2 The " Manuscript " here referred to was Edwards's " Materials towards a History of the Bap- 
tists in Rhode Island," to which we are so largely indebted for our history of the College Charter. 
It is a quarto volume of several hundred pages. Backus had the use of it in the preparation of his 
history, and after him the late Dr. Benedict. It is now in the possession of the Rhode Island His- 
.torical Society. 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 459 

small piece newly published. Your remarks upon it will be interesting to me as an 
editor, especially if it should pass through another edition. 
My loA-e and good wishes attend you and yours. 

M. Edwards. 

From the Rev Dr. Caleb Evans. 

Down End, near Bristol, Sept. 20, 1788. 
Dear Sir: 

As a memorial of my friendship, and some slight atonement for former neglects, I 
write you this billet by my dear Brother and Sister Mullett, to thank you for your 
former attentions to the first, and to commend them both to your further notice. Our 
anxieties and emotions at parting with those we have so much reason to love, and 
especially with a sister endeared to us from her earliest infancy by every quality that 
can render any character truly respectable and truly amiable, are not to be described. 
But we cast all our care on that God who careth for all those who trust in him, and 
has promised not to leave nor forsake them. 

I enclose you a few Association letters, etc., which may give you more information 
than I have leisure to communicate. Dr. Stennett's Sermons on the Parable of the 
Sower you have doubtless seen. They are truly excellent, as giving the best instruc- 
tions to preachers as well as hearers. I would also recommend to your notice Dr. 
Priestley's Lectures on History, as the best book on that interesting subject I ever met 
with. If I can I will herewith send it, and beg your acceptance of it for the Library of 
your College. I wish also to acquaint you with the reasons we have to expect soon a 
capital history of the Baptists, by Robert Robinson of Cambridge, and, if possible, will 
get some of his letters to me on that subject transcribed for that purpose. 

It gives me no small concern to find your government making so disgraceful a figure 
amongst the other sister states. Surely, if they knew how foreigners look upon them, 
they would blush. I should, however, have scarcely ventured to say this, if I could 
not have added that I am happy to find the town of Providence shines forth as a 
luminous spot upon this dark mass, and appears the brighter for the darkness which 
surrounds it. 

What shall I say to temjit you to renew a correspondence you have hitherto found so 
fruitless? May I not remind you that it is more blessed to give than to receive? And 
you have much to give which will be thankfully received, though you may receive 
little or nothing in return. I shall also be glad to hear of the general state of religion 
in America, of the progress of civilization, etc., in Kentucky, the prosperity of the 
Baptist College, the health and usefulness of its worthy President, etc. And you may 
possibly, now my connections with America are so tender, find me a more punctual, if 



460 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

not a more intelligent correspondent than I have hitherto been. Dr. Priestley's writ- 
ings in the theological line you are iirobably no stranger to, and surely he has gone to 
the ne plus ultra of heresy. Further he cannot go and retain the name of Christian, for 
the substance of Christianity he has long since discarded. I am preaching a few ser- 
mons on the Atonement, in opposition to his strange, unsupported notions. Such doc- 
trines cannot long prevail. They have no internal energy. 

I have heard an excellent character of the son of the late Jonathan Edwards. Can 
you give me any anecdotes respecting him ? 

I remain, dear sir, with every wish the sincerest friendshijj can dictate for you and 
your family and extensive connections, 

Your affectionate friend and brother, 

Caleb Evans. 

P. S. — I write this in haste, at a country retreat four miles from town, and have not 
my papers with me, or I would make a regular acknowledgment of your repeated 
favors before and since the safe arrival of the books. 

I had like to have forgot to say, do you want a good linguist to assist in the College 
or grammar school with you, or to send to Kentucky? A young man of this descrip- 
tion left our academy last vacation, who, having few friends here, and a very slender 
voice, which is a bar to his popularity, seems willing to go abroad could he have any 
encouragement. He is a good young man, has very tolerable talents as a preacher, and 
is an excellent mechanical scholar in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, and has some 
knowledge of the first rudiments of the mathematics. He is deficient in a general course 
of knowledge and reading, but habituated to diligence, and very capable of improve- 
ment. I should have kept him here another year, had not some particular circum- 
stances prevented it. I really think he might be an important acquisition in such a 
department as I have mentioned, and I am persuaded he would come over upon very 
moderate encouragement. 

To THE Rev. Dr. Hezekiah Smith. 

Providence, Dec. 17, 1788, 
Dear Sir: 

Yours of the 25th ult. came safe to hand. Am sorry for and sympathize with you 
in your trials, but God means them for good to you; though we are impatient, often- 
times, under the salutary discipline of a heavenly parent. I cannot bear to think of 
your leaving Haverhill. I hope God has work for you to do there yet, and is now pre- 
paring you for it. I should be sorry should you come to a resolution of taking your son 
from College. I hope you may yet see a brighter sky, which will encourage you to 
proceed. The conduct of the people I doubt not is trying. You did well in not being 



1786-1788. AND MANNING. 461 

precipitate. We miist let our moderation be known, and indeed we need mucli of it. I 
hope you meet with success in the petition to the House of New Hampshire, but fear, 
as their session was so short, they did not take that up ; if not, I hope they will when 
they meet next. Am glad to hear that things were agreeable at Mr. Wood's settlement 
at Ware. I hope he will prove a blessing to them. I think him a valuable man. 

The abridgment of Dr. Gill, through the scarcity of money, is stopped for the present, 
as very little encouragement has yet been given for the work. Dr. Jones himself does 
not expect it will go on, and the money which was put into my hands for that purpose I 
have returned long since. Thus encleth that lesson. 

Your son,i I think, wants a little more stability; he seems to fluctuate too much. 

Upon giving him your letter to me to read, he seemed to conclude he is not likely to 

come to College any more. Instability is natural to young minds, but it may be checked 

in some degree by proper culture ; and a parent greatly beloved can accomplish this 

the best. Mr. Stanford has hinted to the people that they are not to expect his stay 

after the expiration of the term agreed to ; but the committee have within a few days 

past had two meetings, the last of which was with him, and are determined to use their 

influence to prevent it. With sentiments of esteem, and love to Mrs. Smith, in which 

Mrs. Manning joins, I am, etc., 

James Manning. 

It seems proper in this chapter, which illustrates more particularly 
Dr. Manning's political character and life, to give some account of his 
efforts in behalf of popular education. 

The late Samuel Thurber, in a letter addressed to Judge Staples, 
which we find in his Annals of Providence, says of schools, that, 
"previous to about the year 1770, thej^ were but little thought of. 
There were," he says, "in my neighborhood, three small schools, with 
perhaps a dozen scholars in each. Their books were the Bible, spell- 
ing-book, and primer. One kept by John Foster, Esq., in his office ; 
one by Dr. Benjamin West. Their fees were seven shillings and six- 
pence per quarter. One kept by George Taylor, Esq., for the church 
scholars. He, it was said, received a small compensation from Eng- 
land. Besides these there were two or three women schools. When 
one had learned to read, write, and do a sum in the rule of three, he 
was fit for business. The Rev. James Manning," Mr. Thurber 



1 The " son" here referred to was Hezekiah, Dr. Smith's eldest son. He eventually settled down 
on a farm in Northumberland, Coos County, New Hampshire, where he died at an advanced age. 



462 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XII. 

remarks in another place, "did great things in the way of enlightening 
and informing the people. Schools revived by means of his advice and 
assistance. Previous to him it was not uncommon to meet with those 
who could not write their names." 

The leading facts pertaining to the history of popular education in 
Providence are given by Judge Staples. That Manning was prominent 
in all efforts made in his day for the improvement of society and the 
public good, is evident from the tenor of his life and correspondence 
thus far. He was a member of the school committee of the town, and 
for many years the chairman. One of the last acts of his life was to 
draw up a report in favor of the establishment of free public schools, 
which report was presented at an adjourned town meeting held in the 
State House, Monday, Aug. 1, 1791, only two days after the author 
had been followed to the tomb. We shall be pardoned if we give an 
extract from this valuable report, which, although not carried into 
immediate execution, was cordially received and adopted at the time, 
and doubtless, paved the way for the introduction, a few years later, 
of the present free-school system of Providence. 

It seems that, at the annual town meeting in June, a petition had 
been presented, praying that a sufficient number of schoolmasters be 
appointed to instruct all the children in town at the public expense ; 
which petition was referred to the school committee, of which Manning 
was chairman, with instructions to report thereon at an adjourned 
meeting. The report thus begins : — 

To THE FREEMEN OF THE TOWN OF PROVIDENCE, TO BE CONVENED NEXT BY ADJOURN- 
MENT, THE UNDERWRITTEN MEMBERS OF YOUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE, IN PURSUANCE OF 
YOUR RESOLUTION AT YOUR LAST MEETING, REPORT : — 

After the most deliberate and mature consideration of the subject, we are clearly of 
opinion that the measure proposed by the petitioners is eligible, for many reasons. 

1. Useful knowledge, generally diffused among the people, is the surest means of 
securing the rights of man, of promoting the public prosperity, and perpetuating the 
liberties of a country. 

2. As civil community is a kind of joint tenancy in respect to the gifts and abilities 
of individual members thereof, it seems not improper that the disbursements necessary 
to qualify those individuals for usefulness should be made from common funds. 



nS&-178S. AND MANNING. 463 

3. Our lives and properties, in a free state, are so much in the power of our fellow- 
citizens, and the reciprocal advantages of daily intercourse are so much dependent on 
the information and integrity of our neighbors, that no wise man can feel himself indif- 
ferent to the progress of useful learning, civilization, and the preservation of morals in 
the community where he resides. 

4. The most reasonable object of getting wealth, after our own wants are supplied, 
is to benefit those who need it ; and it may with great propriety be demanded, in what 
way can those whose wealth is redundant benefit their neighbors more certainly and 
permanently than by furnishing to their children the means of qualifying them to 
become good and useful citizens, and of acquiring an honest livelihood? 

5. In schools established by public authority, and whose teachers are paid by the 
public, there will be reason to hope for a more faithful and impartial discharge of the 
duties of instruction, as well as of discipline among the scholars, than can be expected 
when the masters are dei^endent on individuals for their support.' 

The report goes on to recommend that the ' ' Brick Schoolhouse ' ' 
and "Whipple Hall" be purchased of the proprietors, and that two 
additional houses be erected, one on the west side of the river. It also 
recommends that tlie four schools thus established be under the care 
and supervision of the school committee, who shall appoint the neces- 
sary instructors. It is signed by James Manning, Enos Hitchcock, 
Moses Brown, Joseph Snow, Moses Badger, Jabez Bowen, David 
Howell, Benjamin Bourne, John Dorrance, Tlieodore Foster, and Wel- 
come Arnold. Providence, July (seventh month), 1791. Although, 
as we have already stated, this report was adopted, its provisions were 
not carried into effect until the year 1800, when the General Assembly 
passed its first act in relation to free schools, in accordance with a 
petition to this effect from the Providence Association of Mechanics 
and Manufacturers, drawn up and presented by John Howland. On 
the last Monday in October, 1800, four schools were opened in Provi- 
dence, under the most favorable auspices. 



1 This admirable report, so brief and yet so comprehensive, embodies in its five " reasons," the 
grand principles which underlie all legislative action in behalf of popular education. The veteran 
educator, the Hon. Henry Barnard, of Hartford, who was Commissioner of Public Schools in Rhode 
Island from 1845 until 1849, remarked to the writer %3on after the publication. In 1864, of " Manning 
and Brown University," in which this report appeared, that it was the best report of the kind he 
had ever seen ; and that he valued it as one of the choicest books in his " Pedagogical Collection." 



CHAPTER XIII. 

1789-1791. 

Letter from Rev. Dr. Gordon, illustrating his political views, and his position in Eng- 
land as the historian of the American war — Manning appointed to draft and present 
to Congress a petition in behalf of Rhode Island — Petition as published in Staples's 
Annals — Address to the Graduating Class of 1789 — Jeremiah B. Howell — James 
Fenner — Manning's customary charge to candidates for the ministry — Letter 
addressed to Manning from committee of the Baptist church — Letter to Rev. Abra- 
ham Booth — Booth's reply — Letter from Rev. Dr. Evans — Letter to Rev. Dr. Smith 

— Religious interest in Providence — Seven ineffectual attempts in the General 
Assembly to call a Convention for the adoption of the Federal Constitution — Sena- 
tor "Williams, from Foster — Final adoption. May 29, 1790 — George Washington's 
visit to Providence — Reception at the College — Address of President Manning in 
behalf of the Corporation — Washington's reply — Commencement for 1790 — Moses 
Brown — Degree of LL. D. conferred on Washington — Anecdote respecting him — 
Letter to Rev. Dr. Smith respecting Asa Messer, Tutor Flint, etc. — Ordination of Mr. 
Flint — Letter from Abraham Booth — Letter from Rev. Dr. Rippon — Rippon's 
"Baptist Annual Register" — Letter from Rev. Dr. William Richards, of Lynn, 
England — Announces his intentions of bequeathing his library to Rhode Island 
College — Account of Mr. Richards — Corresponds with President Messer — Bequeaths 
his library to the University — Last letter from Manning, addressed to Rev. Dr. 
Smith — Manning preaches his farewell sermon to the peojile of his charge — Notifies 
the Corporation of the College to look out for a successor to fill his place — Singular 
presentiment of his approaching mortality — His death — Universal sorrow and regret 

— Proceedings of the Corporation — Funeral — Extracts from Maxcy's Funeral Ser- 
mon — Letter on the occasion of Manning's death from Rev. Dr. Stillman, addressed 
to Rev. Dr. Smith — Letter from Hon. David Howell, in behalf of members of the 
Corporation, announcing Manning's death to Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones, and in an 
informal manner designating him as his successor in the Presidency — Letter from 
Rev. Isaac Backus to Rev. Dr. Rippon — : Letter to Dr. Rippon from Doct. Drowne — 
Extracts from Simeon Doggett's Commencement "Oration on the Death of Rev. 
President Manning" — Manning as a Baptist and a Federalist the " object of detrac- 
tion" — Extracts from the circular letters of the Warren and Philadelphia Associa- 
tions — Manning's personal appearance, habits, character, and influence, as given by 
Hon. David Howell — Inscription on his tomb-stone — Original portrait of Manning, 
by Cosmo Alexander — Conclusion — The College founded by Baptists to secure for 
the churches an educated" ministry — The improvement and elevation of the Baptist 
denomination through the College the object and aim of Manning's entire profes- 
sional life. 

From this date Dr. Manning, it appears, did not preserve copies of 
Ms letters abroad, as had heretofore been his custom. We can only 



1789-1791. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 465 

therefore present, besides one or two additional letters of his own, a 
few replies from his friends, which will doubtless be regarded as an 
interesting part of his correspondence. The following, from the Rev. 
Dr. Gordon, will serve to illustrate the author's position and views as 
the historian of the American war : — 

RiNQWooD, England, Feb. 27, 1789. 
My Good Friend: 

I am mistaken or you are indebted to me for an answer to my last letter. You 
might delay sending it till you heard where I was settled ; and this you will not do by 
the present means, but the reverse. You will inquire after the situation of Ringwood, 
and the reason of my being here. You know I have a pleasure in gratifying you ; and 
therefore turn to your map of England, look for Hampshire, find out Pool, next the 
church, which is twelve miles off, then Christ's Church, which is ten in the contrary 
direction, then Southampton, which is twenty, and so calculate the proper distance 
between Southampton and Pool, and from Christ Church, then make your dot, and you 
will either hit, or be not far from, Ringwood in imagination. I should be glad to see 
you in reality, though I should be astonished at the sight, and wonder what drove you 
from the land of the whereases, whether the inhabitants are suddenly going from one 
extreme to another and becoming all honest, so that they no longer wanted your 
instruction or example, or are being so confirmed in their malpractices as that you 
had forsaken them, from a conviction that they were a set of incurables. Now for 
the other part of the question, What brought me hither? Freedom among friends is 
best, you know; and therefore, to be plain with you, when I had seen to the delivery 
and sending off my History to the subscribers in London and the country, I pushed off 
to this retirement for a few months, that I might at the distance of ninety-seven miles 
be out of the way of the conversation that my publication would produce. I was suf- 
ficiently tired with composing, transcribing, and publishing ; and did not wish to have 
my spirits fatigued more with the queries and observations that either malevolence or 
curiosity might excite. I judged it as needful to give myself a few months' relaxation, 
as to turn out to grass for a season an old horse worn down by a long, tedious journey, 
that he might recruit and be fit for a little more service. Here we shall remain, if 
spared, at the country house of Mrs. Gordon's younger brother, till April or May, when 
I propose giving a look at London for a few days, on our way to Ipswich in Suffolk, 
seventy miles from the metropolis, eighteen miles from Colchester, and twelve from 
Harwich. Here we were first settled and lived thirteen years. Our former people and 
their successors, like their quondam pastor, were the friends of America, so that we 
shall agree in politics as well as religion. They have a great affection for us ; and had 
59 



466 BROWN UNIYERSITT Chap. XIII. 

there been a vacancy in the pastorate, they would, I have reason to believe, have urged 
my renewing our former relations. Here and in the neighborhood I shall be likely to 
preach occasionally, while abilities admit ; but though I have great reason to adore the 
goodness of God that I am so well in body and mind, now that I am within nine days 
of sixty, yet I perceive that they are upon the decline. You will think my eyesight 
good when you read that I write, as you see, whether by day or candlelight. I was in 
hope that some ministerial settlement with a small congregation, and a salary that 
might have made our circumstances more easy, would have offered. But the great Head 
of the church has ordered otherwise, — not only with wisdom for the general good, but 
w^ith mercy for our particular benefit. I do not intend to lie by in a state of lazy indo- 
lence, but to apply myself to some kind of service that may be useful to the church and 
the public, and yield me, with the blessing of God, some advantage to supply present 
deficiencies. "What that should be I have not yet determined, and delay till I get into 
a habitation of my own, if an earthly one remains designed for me. But I mean it to 
be of that nature that will not disgrace a D. D., the creature of Princeton College Trus- 
tees. Much will depend upon the voice of the public, on both sides of the Atlantic. If 
the numerous part of impartialists will exclaim well done, and call for a second edition 
of my History, the way will be plain. The profits arising from it will suffice, especially 
if the heads of American colleges will let me have their orders and their cash for the 
various books that may be wanted in their seminaries and libraries, which I might be 
able to supply them with on lower terms than they now have them, by exchanging 
copies of my work with the booksellers having the copyright of such as are to be fur- 
nished. Your friendship will lead you to improve upon this hint; and methinks I am 
entitled to the countenance and aid of the American States, for my past and present 
attachment to their freedom and independence, and for the disadvantages the same has 
subjected me to in my native country. 

I had finished writing thus far, and taken a breathing-walk into the garden, when 
yours of September, 1788, was brought to Mrs. Gordon in a parcel. Upon opening the 
last, I had the pleasure of reading that and another from the same continent. To what 
it has been owing that so much time has elapsed since that day to the present, before 
the parcel reached me, I know not ; but better late than never, and long-looTced-for is come 
at last. And now for answers to, and comments upon it. Through divine goodness 
Mrs. Gordon's hand has been so far restored as to be very serviceable, though not as 
formerly. The labors I had been called to while printing, and which had near 
exhausted me by the time I had finished, led one of my intimate friends to say he was 
astonished at observing how my spirits had kept up. Relaxation, country air, the 
severe cold of last winter, and the pleasures of the present spring, have given to them 
a fresh start; and I promise myself they will recover their former tone. The produce 
of America just received from New York and Massachusetts has raised them some 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 467 

degrees above par. When you read the History, I flatter myself you will pronounce 
me the friend of the American cause, and that I have pointed out the faults of the 
United States in divers instances without basting them severely. I can go beyond most 
of the members of the old superannuated Congress, or even of the new Federal Consti- 
tution, and say, I pray daily that the United States of America may be a holy, free, and 
happy people, which is the way to be lasting. It used to be one of my petitions that 
good government might be established among them ; but that being answered, I have 
only to be thankful for it. You will not charge me with having spared Great Britain, 
when you are convinced how faithfully their cruelties in America are related. Your 
account of Massachusetts merits confirmation, and I hope will obtain it. The infinitely 
wise Governor of the universe often makes great evils the parents of lasting and great 
benefits. But where did you leave your orthodox divinity, when yoii went from Provi- 
dence to New York, that you should venture to declare, that if my native country does 
not smart in your lifetime for her conduct to the East Indians and Africans, not to say 
Americans, that so you might see it, you should alter your opinions respecting the 
divine dispensations toward communities of men in this world? Methinks, Brother 
Doctor, I have caught you napping. Besides, had the Americans smarted equal to their 
crimes toward their public and private creditors, the Africans, etc., when you were 
provoked to leave off glorying in being an American? 

Our common friend, Mr. Rippon, will give you fuller and better intelligence concern- 
ing Winchester than I can do. I wish his most influential days may be at an end, 
unless he goes right about as he was, to allude to a military phrase. May the College 
at Providence, and all other colleges where learning, good morals, and Christian piety 
are encouraged, flourish more and more. And may my friends there continue to enjoy 
good health. I have desired Mr. Mason to accompany this letter with six sets of my 
History to you. One is a present to the College ; the other five are for Jabez Bowen, 
Esq., Messrs. John Brown and Francis Bowen, Mr. Nicholas Brown, Mr. Caleb Greene, 
and Mr. John Jenckes. I pray you to present my best respects to these gentlemen, to 
receive the remaining five pounds from them, and to forward the same to Jonathan 
Mason, Jr., Esq., Boston. If no other way that is more agreeable offers, either of those 
careful and obliging postriders, Messrs. Mumfords, to whom my respects, I am certain 
will take a pleasure in serving me by conveying it. It might not perhaps be amiss to 
hint to them, that if by their peregrinations they could dispose of twenty-five or fifty 
sets, I might likely supply them at twenty-five shillings sterling per set, delivered at 
Boston or Providence. ... I remain, dear sir, 

Yovir very affectionate friend though unworthy brother, 

William Gordon. 



468 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

The services of Dr. Manning were still, it would seem, in popular 
demand at this tr3dng period in the history of Rhode Island as a State. 
From the records of the day we learn that — 

At an adjourned meeting of the town on Thursday (Aug. 27, 1789), a committee, 
that had been appointed on Tuesday for the purpose, reported a draft of a petition to 
be presented to the Congress of the United States, setting forth the distressed situation 
of this State, the probability of our soon joining the Union, and praying that vessels 
belonging to our citizens may be exempted from foreign tonnage, and goods shipped 
from this State from foreign duties, for such time and under such regulations and 
restrictions as Congress in their wisdom shall think proper. 

The petition was unanimously voted; and after having been signed by the modera- 
tor and town clerk, the Rev. Dr. Manning and Benjamin Bourne, Esq., were appointed 
to proceed to New York and present the same. 

The committee appointed to draft the petition consisted of Dr. 
Manning, Benjamin Bourne, Thomas Arnold, Nicholas Brown, Theo- 
dore Foster, Welcome Arnold, and John Brown. The petition itself, 
which was probably drafted by Manning, as chairman of the committee, 
may be found in Staples 's Annals of Providence. Our readers, we feel 
sure, will be glad to see it in this connection : — 

Petition to Congress. 

To THE President, the Vice-President, the Senate, and House of Representa- 
tives OF the United States of America, in Congress assembled: 
The Petition of the Freemen of the Town of Providence, in the State of Rhode 
Island and Providence Plantations, legally convened in Town Meeting, on the 27th day 
of August, 1789, most respectfully sheweth. 

That during the arduous struggle of our country for the preservation of her rights, 
liberties, and independence, in the late war with Great Britain, this town was particu- 
larly noted for its attachment to, and its advances and exertions for, the support of the 
common cause of the United States. Sensible that our most essential interests 
depended on our being in the Union, and that the former Confederation was unequal 
to its exigencies, we made every effort to obtain delegates to be sent from this State to 
the General Convention, which met at Philadelphia, 1787. After the proceedings of 
that Convention were published, this town, pleased with the spirit of liberty, tempered 
with energy and responsibility, which so strikingly pervades the new Constitution, 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 469 

made the most unremitted exertions for obtaining a Convention of the State for its 
adoption. 

We have not hitherto succeeded, but it is with great satisfaction we have it in our 
power to inform Congress, that from the recent election of the members of our lower 
house of Assembly, there is a probability that this desirable event will soon take place. 
"We now experience the unhappy consequence of not belonging to the Union, in being 
subjected to the same imposts and tonnage, as foreigners, which, considering our inti- 
mate connection with the United States, and our dependence upon them for the means 
of our subsistence, operates in a most grievous manner against the seaport towns of 
this State, who have been generally supplied, as well by land as water, with fire-wood, 
corn, flour, and other necessary articles, from the states now in the Union ; and should 
our trade and communication with them continue to be restricted, as at present, our 
situation will be truly wretched. 

"We claim an original relation to the American Congress, and are fully sensible that 
we cannot exist independent of the friendship and good will of our sister states. And 
as we hope the formal accession of this State to the new Constitution is not far distant, 
and as our separation from the Union can by no means be imputed to the seaport towns, 
the inhabitants whereof are, almost unanimously, zealous advocates for the new Con- 
stitution ; and as a continuance of the above mentioned restrictions on the inhabitants 
of this State will accumulate unmerited distress upon that part of the community 
which has been most firmly attached to the Union ; and as we cannot but hope that the 
benign disposition of Congress, towards the agricultural part of the State, manifested 
in the admission of their produce and manufactures free, will also be extended to the 
seaport towns. 

We, therefore, most humbly entreat the attention of Congress to our distressed 
situation, and that they will be pleased to grant, for such time as to them in their 
wisdom shall appear proper, that the vessels belonging to the citizens of this State, 
may be admitted to entry in the ports of the United States, exempt from the payment 
of foreign tonnage in the same manner as vessels belonging to their own citizens ; and 
that foreign merchandise, on importation by the citizens of this State, into the United 
States, by land or water, shall be subject only to the same duties and restrictions as by 
law are required of their own citizens. 

And as in duty bound will ever pray, etc. 

Similar petitions to the above were presented to Congress from 
Bristol and Newport. They met with a favorable reception, and for a 
limited time, that is, until January 15, 1790, the vessels and goods of 
the citizens of Rhode Island were placed on the same footing with like 



470 BROWN IJNIVERSITT Chap. XIII. 

property of citizens of the United States. How far this result may be 
attributed to the character and personal influence of Dr. Manning we 
can only conjecture. In the long struggle of the citizens of Provi- 
dence, Bristol, and Newport to obtain a Convention of the State for the 
adoption of the new Constitution, he was conspicuously active, and 
by his voice and his pen contributed materially towards the final and 
happy settlement of political difficulties. 

Dr. Manning, as we have before observed, presided at all Com- 
mencement occasions with remarkable dignity and grace. His addresses 
to the graduating class were especially noted for excellent good sense, 
and were pervaded by a tone of piety and delivered with an eloquence 
which could hardly fail to produce happy and lasting impressions upon 
the young men, as they stood before him to receive final words of 
counsel and love. The only production of this kind that has come 
down to us, in addition to the one preserved by Solomon Drowne and 
given in a previous chapter, was copied from the original, by the Rev. 
Isaac Backus, several years after the author's death. It was delivered 
at the Commencement held Sept. 2, 1789. Among those to whom it 
was especially addressed, we notice the names of Jeremiah Brown 
Howell, afterwards a member of the United States Senate, and the 
late James Fenner, for many years the popular and efficient Governor 
of Rhode Island. Mr. Fenner, it may be added, was the valedictorian 
of his class. 

President Manning's Charge. 

Having completed your academical course, you now commence life as members of 
the great community of the world. Here, while your country offers you a fairer oppor- 
tunity to display your abilities, and improve to advantage that knowledge which you 
have acquired, than any age or country ever before presented, it becomes my duty to 
point you to that line of conduct which will most probably insure your success. 

The narrow limits prescribed by the occasion will allow me to hint at only a few 
general observations. 

The first attention of a youth stepping forward into life should be to acquire and 
preserve a good character. A destitution of this places him beyond the possibility of 
ever becoming eminent. For, bad as the world is, it has always paid a voluntary 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 471 

tribute to virtue ; and though some vicious men have arisen to a degree of respecta- 
bility, it will be found, on a nearer view, that they are indebted for that respectability 
to some virtuous traits in their character. 

To avail yourselves of this supreme advantage, I cannot recommend to you a subject 
more important and interesting than the Christian religion ; of whose divine Founder 
it was a favorite maxim, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other 
things shall be added unto you. 

This divine religion creates principles in the hearts of its subjects, the most opera- 
tive, and the best adapted to regulate the life and conduct than can possibly be 
conceived. This at once portrays in the strongest colors, the state, connections, and 
claims of man; and disrobes the world of all its imaginary glory, and presents it in its 
own fugitive, fading colors, the fashion of which passeth away, while it inspires that 
unassuming humility which renders a man less vulnerable by the envenomed shafts of 
malevolence ; it moulds the heart into a divine benevolence, and is the purest of that 
exquisite sensibility which deeply interests itself in the fortunes of others, so that it 
weeps with those who weep, and rejoices with those who rejoice. 

This divine religion carries forward our thoughts to futurity, contemplates as a 
reality our dissolution, and that awful approaching judgment in which we must all 
become a party. It places us in that new eternal world, reaping the fruits of what we 
have sown in this. In a word, it places us immediately under the eye of God, now the 
witness of our actions, and soon to be our Judge. 

How operative this divine principle to check the irregularity of the passions, and 
guard against the force of temptations! How divine a prompter to the discharge of 
every obligation we are under to God or man ! 

Next to this attention to religion, let me earnestly recommend the forming betimes 
of habits of industry. Man was made for employment. All his internal as well as 
external powers testify to this great truth. To comply with this great dictate of nature 
is of the utmost importance; and youth, of all seasons of life, is the fittestjfor this 
culture. That is the period to form and give a proper direction to the habits, on the 
right constitution of which depends, almost entirely, the happiness of man. 

In selecting a profession, consult the strong bias of natural inclination; for against 
this current few if any have made a figure ; and be sure that the object lies within reach 
of your talents. 

Should the Christian ministry with any of you become anjobject, reflect on the 
absurdity of intruding into it while strangers to experimental religion. See that your- 
selves have been taught of God before you attempt to teach godliness to others. To 
place in the professional chairs of our universities the most illiterate of mankind, 
would be an absurdity by far less glaring than to call an unconverted man to exercise 
the ministerial function. This is to expose our holy religion to the scoffs of infidels, and 



472 BEOWN UNIYERSITT Chap. XIII. 

to furnish to their hands the most deadly weapons. I omit to insist on the account such 
must render in the great, tremendous day ! 

May that wisdom which is from above direct your steps in your journey through 
life ; and may you, after the discharge of the duties of good citizens, men of science 
and religion, meet the approbation of the Supreme Judge, and reap the harvest of 
immortal glory in the world above. 

With this devout wish, I bid you farewell. 

The reader will observe how earnestly and forcibly President Man- 
ning urges candidates for the ministry to seek first of all the " kingdom 
of God and his righteousness." This was in accordance with his usual 
custom on all Commencement occasions. On this point we may be 
allowed to quote from Backus, who in the Abridgment of his Church 
History, thus writes : " Dr. Manning was a good instructor in human 
learning, but at every Commencement he gave a solemn charge to his 
scholars never to presume to enter into the work of the ministry until 
they were taught of God, and had reason to conclude that they had 
experienced a saving change of heart." 

Among Manning's papers we find the following, dated Providence, 
Nov. 7, 1789, Saturday evening : — 

The Baptist church and congregation in this town had by us, their committee, made 
arrangements to supply ,the pulpit for several weeks, and expected the Rev. Mr. Still- 
man in town this day ; but his not arriving will leave the society entirely destitute 
unless you will be so obliging as to preach for us — a favor which in behalf of the 
church and congregation we now most earnestly solicit. Your compliance will confer 
a particular obligation on the society, in whose behalf we are 

Your friends, 

Nicholas Brown, 
Davh) Martin, 
John Jenckes, 
Ephbaim Wheaton, 
David Howell, 
Christopher Sheldon, 
Wm. Holroyd, 
John Brown, 
George Benson. 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 473 

To THK Rev. Abraham Booth. 

Providence, Dec. 25, 1789. 
Dear Sir: 

Your most acceptable favor of July 11, with the package, met me at the Association 
at Philadelphia, the 5th of last month. I thank you for your expressions of kindness 
towards me, and your wishes for my usefulness. Indeed, I cannot but consider myself 
as a very barren tree in my Lord's vineyard. 

The paragraph respecting Dobson's republishing your Pedobaptism I showed to the 
Association, and queried with them whether your painful labors and extensive services 
to the Baptist cause, in that publication, did not entitle you to our assistance on this 
side of the Atlantic, by aiding in the sale of the book. They agreed they did ; but as 
Mr. Dobson had circulated proposals, they doubted the propriety of taking the matter 
up till Dobson had given up the design. Thus it remains. 

It seems Mr. Williams has rallied his forces and attacked you. I am glad, however, 
to find that you are not panic-struck at the onset. Indeed, I think you have taken a 
ground too strong to be easily dislodged. We should be gratified with a sight of his 
piece. If the Pedobaptists, in general, think it masterly, we doubtless shall soon see it 
in America. The strength of the advocates of that tenet is to sit still. It is too late in 
the day for them to avail themselves, in this age of inquiry, of those plausible colorings 
which formerly passed very well for solid arguments. At best, if observation has not 
deceived me, this is the fact with respect to America. 

Your Essay on the Kingdom of Christ met a most hearty welcome, and its author 
has my warmest thanks. It was a subject which had employed my thoughts at inter- 
vals for several years, and I was almost determined to have committed them to paper, 
with a design to publish them. I am happy that I had only thought of doing it, as the 
subject has fallen into much abler hands. I am most heartily pleased with it, and think 
it lays the axe to the root of that wide-spreading tree, infant-baptism and infant church 
membership. 

Your portrait of Winchester is so exactly to the life that all his acquaintances must 
see the man in it. The Baptist society still increases in the Southern States, especially 
in Virginia, and I may add the Middle States also, especially New York. Mr. Jonathan 
Maxcy, our youngest tutor in the College, a youth of genius and no small degree of lit- 
erature for his age, about twenty-one years old, has lately found Christ, and followed his 
Lord into the watery grave. There is another youth under serious impressions, and 
there is more appearance of attention to divine things in the College than for some 
years past. Our second tutor, Mr. Abel Flint, a young Congregational preacher, has 
turned his attention to the subject of baptism for some weeks past, and your Pedobap- 
60 



474 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

tism Examined has been his almost constant companion. He told me, some days since, 
that if that tenet could not be supported from Abraham's covenant, it must fall. If I 
was as well satisfied of his being a subject of divine grace as I am that Maxcy is, I 
should think him no small acquisition. May God grant him grace and guide him into 
all truth! Our number of students lacks but two of seventy. 

Yours, etc. 

James Manning. 

Booth's Reply. 

London, Feb. 25, 1790. 
Dear Sir: 

Your letter by favor of Mr. Mullett came safe to hand about a fortnight ago. So far 

from being wearied by your circumstantial account of the conduct of , I think 

myself much obliged to you for it. Unhappy man! I fear he is hardened through the 
deceitfulness of sin. May the Lord have mercy on him, and give him repentance. 

I am very much obliged to you for your generous concern on my behalf respecting 
the sale of the second edition of my Pedobaptism Examined. That the composing of it 
required much labor, that I laid out no small sum of money in purchasing books, 
especially on the popish controversy, with a view to the new impression, and that I am 
much more likely to lose by it than to gain anything, are facts ; but I am of opinion 
that, after Dr. Dobson had received encouragement to publish proposals for the reprint- 
ing of it, my brethren in America could not with honor desert him, while he continues 
his design in reference to that affair. 

It gives me pleasure to find that my Essay on the Kingdom of Christ meets with 
your approbation. The subject is undoubtedly of great importance, and I sincerely pray 
that the Lord may bless the pamphlet to the promoting of that spiritual kingdom. The 
first volume of Mr. Robinson's History of the Baptists has been in the press for these 
five or six months, but it is not yet published. That volume, indeed, is to contain a 
history of baptism, and three more volumes that are to follow, a history of the Baptists. 
A great extent of reading, much wit, and many curious anecdotes, may be expected to 
appear in the work whenever it comes out ; but I have my fears that it will, on the 
whole, be of no great utility to the real cause of Jesus Christ. The author is now 
known to have adopted Dr. Priestley's system in general ; but he is justly considered 
as far inferior to the Doctor in respect of candor and of integrity. Dr. Priestley speaks 
out; you know what he means. Not so the other gentleman. I have often thought that 
if it had not been for his uncommon share of wit, he would before now have sunk into 
universal contempt among serious people; and he is, indeed, much sunk of late in the 
estimation of numbers. I have been lately well informed that Dr. Priestley considers 
him as doing no honor to any cause. This you will observe, however, is internes. 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 475 

The beginning of January last I received a letter from Dr. Samuel Jones, of Lower 
Dublin, respecting the validity of baptism administered by immersion and on a profession of 
faith, "bj an unbaptized — that is, Pedobaptist — minister; on which question he desired 
my opinion. I have given it, in a very long letter enclosed in one to Dr. Stillman, of 
Boston. I have sent it unsealed, that Dr. Stillman might have an opportunity of perus- 
ing it before he sent it off to Dr. Jones. I am very sorry that I was obliged, in opposi- 
tion to the determination of the Association at Philadelphia, to take the affirmative of 
the question; that is, I think such baptism, though irregular, valid. If you should by 
any means have a sight of that letter, I should be glad to know your thoughts on the 
argument contained in it. I have expressed my views on the subject with the utmost 
freedom, and I trust without giving any cause of offence to the Doctor. 

My respects, if you have opportunity, to Dr. Drowne. I earnestly pray that the Lord 
may cause his truth to prosper all around you, as I am glad to hear it does in Virginia. 
Winchester seems to be losing ground pretty fast ; for some of his principal admirers 
have turned their backs upon him, and have renounced his notion of universal resti- 
tution, of which they were once extremely fond. Shall be glad to hear from you at any 
time when an opportunity presents. The Lord be with you in all your departments of 
labor and in all your connections. I remain, dear sir. 

Your unworthy brother, 

A. Booth. 
From the Rev. Dr. Caleb Evans. 

Bristol, Feb. 22, 1790. 
Dear Sir : 

The literary degree with which the respectable Society over which you preside have 
thought proper to honor me, I duly received, accompanied with your truly friendly let- 
ter, for which I beg you to accept my best thanks. I rely upon you, sir, to make known 
my acknowledgments to the other members of the College for this mark of distinction 
and favor, and to assure them that it will always give me peculiar pleasure to promote 
the prosperity of so useful and honorable an Institution. 

I received from King's College, Aberdeen, the same honor, before the degree from 
America was announced here, so that I consider myself under double obligations to 
care that I do nothing to discredit the title which has been so honorably conferred upon 
me by two such respectable bodies. I not only did not seek this honor, but I ought to 
decline it ; but as it has been so generously decreed me, I think it my duty to receive 
and improve it as a motive to activity and zeal in the sphere in which Providence has 
placed me. 

We are clogged here with test laws, and in vain struggling to get rid of them. Yo» 



476 BROWN UNIVERSITY - Chap. XIII. 

know no such shackles. And yet you know what it is to have bad men disappoint the 
desires of the good, and outnumber them in their best-intentioned projects. 

Does not the French Revolution astonish you ? It astonishes and delights me beyond 
measure, but our great folks here dislike it exceedingly. The counsel of the Lord, 
however, shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure. 

I am astonished at the resolve of your Association about rebaptizing, but refer you 
to a letter of Mr. Booth's upon the subject, I believe to you. Surely you are more nar- 
row than the Papists upon this subject. 

I congratulate you upon the increase of your College and church, and the rising state 
of the Baptist interest. We go on as usual, are well attended, but have few additions. 
The love of many waxeth cold. We have great reason to cry mightily to Him with 
whom is the residue of the Spirit. 

The young man I wrote to you about is in too bad a state of health to think of a 

voyage to America. I rejoice you have rooted out , that pest of society, a truly 

filthy, infamous fellow ; but I know not how to refrain asking, How came you ever to 
admit him, without the least testimonial to his character ? 

But I am obliged abruptly to break off, only begging to be favored with a line when- 
ever opportunity offers, and that you would believe I truly am 

Your affectionate and obliged friend and brother, 

Caleb Evans. 

To THE Rev. Dr. Hezekiah Smith. 

Providence, 20th April, 1790. 
Dear Brother: 

I snatch a moment to inform you that the good work still continues, and I think has 
been gradually increasing amongst us since you left. Last Lord's Day I baptized two, 
and a third was prevented by indisposition of body. Two profess to have met with a 
change the last of last week. Several profess to have received comfort, but are not 
fully satisfied. I believe that there are from fifty to one hundred under serious 
impressions ; and they crowd the evening meetings whenever and wherever they are 
appointed. Numbers come to my house to converse with me about their souls. Many 

of Dr. H k's people attend the evening meetings, of whom several appear seriously 

impressed. Some people, you will naturally guess, do not like this, and look rather 
shy. Poor Mr. Flint has come to a point, and must be a Baptist, notwithstanding the 
reproaches he has to endure ; but he has not full satisfaction about his own state. He 
is amazingly engaged for the persons under awakening, and attends whenever he can. 
He has been sick, but is recovered. Mr. Maxcy has been called and licensed, but has 
been at home some time, much indisposed. He is now very ill with the measles. He 



1789-1791. AND MAN-NING. 477 

preaches to admiration. Several of the students are also down with the measles, and 
others have had them. Not a few of the students are under serious impressions. 
Many of the people here are often wishing to see Mr. Smith again ; and, for your 
encouragement, I can inform you that many profess to have been awakened by your 
labors amongst us. No account has yet been received from Dr. Gano, and I expect to 
go for Jersey the beginning of May. The people really lament and mourn at the 
thought of being left destitute. What think you of coming and making another visit 
to Providence the beginning of next month? I believe this would diffuse a general 
joy through both church and society. You will find work enough to employ you day 
and night. I heartily wish you could come, but I have not had an opportunity of 
speaking to the committee on the subject. I expect they would embrace this oppor- 
tunity of writing you if they knew of this opportunity to send to Boston, — more 
especially if they had not sanguine hopes that Dr. Gano would soon be here ; but I 
really fear some disaster has happened to him. If my wishes could bring you to 
Providence, you would soon be here. Attleboro is visited, and several other places. 
Mrs. Manning joins in love to you and lady, with, dear sir, yours, etc., 

James Manning. 

In a letter to Dr. Rippon, dated Nov. 13, 1790, which we find in 
the first volume of the "Register," Backus thus refers to the religious 
interest in Providence: — "A revival of religion began in Providence 
College about a year ago ; a young tutor. Rev. Mr. Jonathan Maxcy is 
now a promising preacher in the Baptist church there, to which near 
thirty members have been added in the year past, and the work still 
prevails." 

At the commencement of the present year, the political affairs of 
the State had reached a crisis. The general government had been 
organized under the Constitution, and had been in successful operation 
since April 30, 1789. North Carolina, in November following, adopted 
the Constitution, leaving, says Staples, " Rhode Island alone in her 
glory, sovereign, independent, and alone — no State or nation bound 
to her by treaty, or by community of feeling, situation, or interest." 
Seven times had the friends of the Constitution moved in the General 
Assembly for the calling of a special Convention, and seven times had 
they been defeated by a political party, composed largely of country 
members, who had risen to power by their devotion to extreme measures, 



478 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XIII. 

and were banded together to retain if possible their political ascendency 
at all hazards. The near approach of January 15, 1790, after which 
Rhode Islanders were to be treated as foreigners, roused the merchants 
and friends of the new government throughout the State, to make one 
more strenuous attempt to induce the Legislature to call a Convention for 
the adoption or rejection of the Constitution. The General Assembly 
met in Providence on the second Monday in January. Four days were 
spent in the ordinary business of the Body. On Friday morning, Ben- 
jamin Bourne, a representative from Providence, and afterwards an 
efficient Trustee of the College, moved for the calling of a Convention, 
and the motion, after debate, was carried by a vote of 34 to 29. The 
senate, which consisted of the governor, the lieutenant-governor, and 
eight senators,^ failed to concur, the lieutenant-governor and four sena- 
tors voting against it. This was on Saturday evening. The assembly 
adjourned to Sunday morning. Before the assembly met one of the 
opposing senators, who was a minister, left town, having become con- 
vinced, says the historian, that he ought to attend to pastoral duties on 
the Lord's day. Tradition affirms that his travelling expenses were 
defrayed by John Brown, the hero of the G-aspee. The question was 
again taken in the senate, and as the vote was now a tie, it was incum- 
bent on Governor Collins, the presiding officer, to cast the decisive vote, 
which he did by voting to concur with the Lower House. The State 
House that day, says the annalist, was thronged to overflowing, while 
the several churches were almost vacated. The most intense anxiety 
pervaded the community, and when it was known that the bill calling 
for a Convention had been passed into a law, vain was the attempt to 
stop the rising murmur of applause in the House, or the shouts of joy 
without. Never before in the history of the State had the Legislature 
been in session on a Sunday, and never before had there been such an 
occasion to justify it. 

The name of the opposing senator or assistant who left town in order 
to attend to his pastoral duties, is not given. It was probably John 
Williams, of Foster. His title, as given in the schedules, is Esquire. 



1 Assistants was the term used at this time to designate members of the upper house. 



178&-1791. AND MANNING. 479 

Knight, in his History of the Six Principle Baptists, states that the 
church in Foster was formed in 1780, and that it was under the pastoral 
care of Elder John Williams, assisted by Elder John Westcott, and that 
these two continued to preach and have pastoral care of the church for 
nearly half a century, both living to be upwards of eighty years of age. 
They were what would be called to-day lay preachers, working with 
their hands during the week, and preaching Sundays. "The labors of 
the ministry in the Six Principle Baptist denomination," says Knight, 
"have generally been confined to their own churches, or within a very 
small circle. Their ministers have generally been in indigent circum- 
stances, and obliged to labor to support themselves and families, their 
churches not being so much in the habit of affording pecuniary aid to 
their preachers as other denominations." The members of the Conven- 
tion from Foster in May following, were Capt. William Howard and 
John Williams, both of whom voted nay on the question of the adoption 
of the Constitution. This we learn from Staples's " Rhode Island in 
the Continental Congress." 

On Monday, May 24, the final State Convention on the Constitution 
was held at Newport. On Thursday the body adjourned, for more 
ample accommodations, from the State House to the Second Baptist 
Church, where for three days the great debate between the contending 
parties was continued. At five o'clock on Saturday afternoon the final 
vote was taken. Thirty-four members voted to adopt the Constitution, 
and thirty-two voted in the negative. Thus a majority of two votes 
"saved the people of Rhode Island from anarchy, and the State from 
dismemberment." 

The news reached Providence before midnight, and was announced 
by the ringing of bells and the booming of cannon. The next day the 
returning delegates were received with a national salute of thirteen 
guns. Again, says Staples, "patriotism encroached on piety, as when 
the vote for calling the Convention passed in the preceding January, 
and the stillness of the Sabbath morning was broken by the joyful roar 
of artillery." 

In about two months after this event, on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1790, 



480 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. xni. 

President Washington with his suite, accompanied by Gov. Clinton of 
New York, Thomas Jefferson, Esq., Secretary of State, and several 
members of Congress, made his first visit to Providence. A large pro- 
cession was formed to escort them from the packet in which they 
arrived, and the occasion was made a gala-day throughout the town. In 
the evening, says the G-azette, " the President and many others took a 
walk on the College green, to view the illumination of the building by 
the students, which made a most splendid appearance." 

On Thursday, the 19th, President Washington and his suite were 
escorted to the College by the students, and by Dr. Manning were intro- 
duced to the Library and Museum, where in behalf of the Corporation 
he thus addressed him : — 

Address to Washington. 

Sib : — Though among the last to congratulate you on your advancement to that dig- 
nified and important station to which the unanimous voice of a grateful country has 
called you, the Corporation of Rhode Island College claim to be among the first in 
warmth of affection for your person, and in esteem for your public character. In 
placing you at the head of the United States, regard was had no less to the influence of 
your example over the morals of the people than to your talents in the administration 
of government. Happy are we to observe, that similar motives have influenced your 
conduct in filling the lower offices in the executive department. We most devoutly 
venerate that superintending Providence which, in the course of events propitious to 
this country, has called you forth to establish, after having defended, our rights and 
liberties. 

Agitated in the hour of doubtful conflict, exulting in your victories, we watched 
your footsteps with the most anxious solicitude. Our fervent supplications to Heaven, 
that you might be furnished with that wisdom and prudence necessary to guide us to 
freedom and independence, have been heard and most graciously answered. 

For the preservation of this freedom, one great object still commands our peculiar 
attention, — the education of our youth. Your sentiments, sir, on this subject, "that 
knowledge is in every country the surest public basis of happiness," and the strongest 
barrier against the intruding hand of despotism, as they most perfectly accord with 
those of the most celebrated characters that ever adorned human nature, so they leave 
no room to apprehend you will refuse the wreath with which the guardians of literature 
here would entwine your brow. 

By restoring your health, and protracting your life so dear to this country, Divine 



J789-1791. AND MANNING. 481 

ProTidence has, in a late instance, furnished to millions matter of thanksgiving and 
praise. 

That you may long remain on earth, a blessing to mankind, and the support of your 
country, — that you may afterwards receive the rewards of virtue, by having the appro- 
bation of God, — is our most sincere desire and fervent supplication. 

This address, which had been formally adopted by the Corporation, 
at a special meeting held in the State House, August 17th, was duly 
presented to the President, signed by Jabez Bowen, Chancellor ; James 
Manning, President ; and David Howell, Secretary. To Manning's 
address in behalf of the Corporation, President Washington thus 
replied : — 

To THE Corporation of Rhode Island College: 

Gentlemen : — The circumstances which have until this time prevented you from 
offering your congratulations on my advancement to the station I hold in the govern- 
ment of the United States, do not diminish the pleasure I feel in receiving this flat- 
tering proof of your affection and esteem, for which I request you will accept my 
thanks. 

In repeating thus publicly my sense of the zeal you displayed for the success of the 
cause of your country, I only add a single suffrage to the general testimony which all, 
who were acquainted with you in the most adverse and doubtful moments of our 
struggle for liberty and independence, have constantly borne in your favor. 

While I cannot remain insensible to the indulgence with which you regard the 
influence of my example and the tenor of my conduct, I rejoice in having so favorable 
an opportunity of felicitating the State of Rhode Island on the co-operation I am 
sure to find in the measures adopted by the guardians of literature in this place, for 
improving the morals of the rising generation, and inculcating upon their minds 
principles peculiarly calculated for the preservation of our rights and liberties. You 
may rely on whatever protection I may be able to afford in so important an object as 
the education of our youth. 

I will now conclude, gentlemen, by expressing my acknowledgments for the tender 
manner in which you mention the restoration of my health on a late occasion, and with 
ardent wishes that Heaven may prosper the literary Institution under your care, in 
giving you the best of its blessings in this world, as well as in the world to come. 

At the Commencement this year, 1790, twenty-two young gentle- 
men took their first degree, being the largest number that had' ever 

61 



482 BEOWN" UNIVEESITY Chap, XIII. 

been graduated at one time since the College was founded. Among 
them was Moses Brown, youngest son of Nicholas Brown, a bright and 
promising youth, who a few months later, just as he had entered upon 
his sixteenth year, was seized with a disorder which suddenly put an 
end to his life. In this class also was graduated the third President of 
Brown University, Asa Messer, of whom we have given a sketch in 
the preceding chapter. At the close of the exercises, the degree of 
Doctor of Laws was conferred on George Washington,^ President of 
the United States of America. This was the last Commencement at 
which Dr. Manning presided. 

To THE Rev. Dr. Smith. 

Pbovidence, 18tli Nov., 1790. 
Dear Brother: 

Yours of the 25th ult. is before me. The tide of business which, on my return home, 
flowed in upon me, prevented my recollecting the case of Mr. Messer. But in my 
journey to the West I had him constantly in view, but found no opening which I 
thought worthy his attention. Mr. Read, from Virginia, has not returned, nor have I 
had any intelligence from him respecting a chance for teaching ; so that I cannot at 
present give any encouragement from this quarter, as it was the general opinion that 
it would be imprudent for him, all things considered, to take a place in College, till 
the present Senior Class are out of the way. We have appointed a Mr. Lyndon Arnold 
to that office for the present, who has no thoughts of continuing more than a year. If 
Mr. Messer should not fall into better business by that time, it would be very agreeable 



1 In reference to this we find the following pleasant anecdote in Rippon's Baptist Register : — 
" In a conversation between several friendly gentlemen (in London) some time since, which 
turned chiefly on the confinement of Lewis the Little, who, like an absolute sovereign, had said to 
five and twenty millions of people, I will he o?>e?/ea, —contrasted with the popularity of Washington 
the Great, — it was mentioned that the Baptist College in Rhode Island had conferred the degree of 
Doctor of Laws on the President of the United States. While it seemed to be the general mind 
that this distinguished character in the history of man would prefer the laurels of a college to a 
crown of despotism, one of the company, it is said, quite impromptu, gave vent to the feelings of 
his heart in the following effusion : — 

' When kings are raere sovereigns, or tyrants, or tools. 

No wonder the people should treat them as fools ; 

But Washington, therefore, presides with applause. 

Because he well merits the Doctor of Laws. 

I'll ne'er be a ruler till I'm LL. D., 

Nor England nor Scotland shall send it to me ; 

I'll have my diploma from Providence Hall, — 

Tor Washington had, — or I'll have none at all. '" 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 483 

to me to have him for an assistant; and sooner, should Tutor Maxcy leave us, which 
he talks of, though I shall reluctantly agree to it. He has with great persuasion con- 
sented to supply the pulpit for six months, and does it to great acceptance. He has 
many hearers, and his labors appear to be owned. He improves amazingly. The good 
work still prevails, and the prospect is as promising at present as at any period past. 
Our dear friend, Mr. Jenckes, is almost gone. It is not likely that he will stay with us 
many weeks. Nicholas Brown is in a very poor way, but yet goes out. I fear his dis- 
order is radical and will prove fatal. 

Your son's standing shall remain as it has done. The instances of Catholicism 
amongst the Presbyterians are, their opening their houses of worship to the Baptists, 
and flocking to hear them, at Brunswick, Woodbridge, Elizabethtown, Newark, etc. 
The Association of Danbury consists of thirteen churches, and there are, probably as 
many more in that quarter which will join them. There has been a great increase of 
the Baptists in the western part of Connecticut and in the lower part of York State of 
late. I suppose Mr. Flint has concluded to commence a preacher among the Congrega- 
tionalists, and I conclude is about to accept a call to the South Parish in Hartford. 
Either the cross was too heavy to commence a Baptist, or he had little reason to expect 
that he should be called to the work among us, unless he could give better evidence of 
a change of heart; or probably something of both had weight in his determination. 
I have said nothing to him on the subject lately, as I was convinced of the strong bias 
he had for preaching at all events. I suppose he has been borne down with a torrent 
of influence from Pedobaptist connections. 

By a letter from Mr. E. Bobbins I hear that the two churches in York are very happy 
together. I wish this feeling may continue and increase. The day appointed for Mr. 

Baldwin's instalment I attended the ordination of Mr. Ebenezer . The letter 

from the Boston church did not reach me until late in the evening of the preceding 
Lord's Day, so that it was out of my power either to come or send them word. I hope 
you had a comfortable season. Our friend Mr. Sutton is settled nearly in the centre of 
Kentucky, and, I believe, in regard to worldly prospects, is more happy than ever he 
was, though he has not the charge of a church, as there are four ordained elders in that 
to which he belongs. He has purchased two hundred acres of good land, has enough 
cleared to raise his bread, which his sons manage, together with carrying on a consid- 
erable share of the hatter's business. This leaves him at leisure to travel, as he has 
lost his wife ; and among other journeys, he contemplates one to New England, to visit 
once more all his friends in this quarter. With best respects to you, lady, and family, 
with all friends, in which Mrs. Manning joins, 

I remain, as ever, 

James Manning. 



484 BROWN" UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

Mr. Flint, to whom Manning here refers, was ordained as a pastor 
of the Second Congregational Church in Hartford, on Wednesday, 
April 20, 1791. The Rev. Dr. Strong of Hartford made the introduc- 
tory prayer, the Rev. Dr. Hitchcock of Providence preached the sermon, 
the Rev. Dr. Goodrich of Durham gave the charge, the Rev. Nathan 
Perkins of Hartford gave the right hand of fellowship, and the Rev. 
David Macclure of East Windsor made the concluding prayer. 

From the Rev. Abraham Booth. 

London, April 1, 1791. 
Dear Sir: 

It being more than twelve months since I wrote you a letter, I have been much dis- 
appointed in not having had the pleasure of hearing from you. At the same time I sent 
a very long letter to Dr. Samuel Jones, in answer to one I received from him, relative 
to the propriety of baptizing such persons as had been solemnly immersed on a profes- 
sion of faith by a Pedobaptist minister, — both of which I enclosed in a packet to Dr. 
Stillman at Boston; but, to my great surprise, I have not received a line from America 
since. The name of the captain (nor yet of his ship) by whom the little packet was 
sent, I do not now recollect, but should be very sorry to learn that the letter never came 
to hand. 

It is probable that you have heard, ere now, of the death of Mr. R. Robinson, of 
Cambridge. He died the last summer, a little before his History of Baptism was 
finished at the press ; by which book it appears he was a thorough-faced Socinian at the 
time of his decease. He died in the neighborhood of Birmingham, at the house of a 
gentleman belonging to Dr. Priestly's community, after having preached at the Doctor's 
meeting-house the Lord's Day before ; was buried at the Doctor's burying-ground (he at 
least spoke at the grave) at the expense of the Doctor's people, and the Doctor preached 
and published a funeral sermon for him; a sermon contemptible as to its composition, 
and detestable as to the sentiments contained in it. Some of the sentiments, in my 
view, are an insult, not only on the Scriptures, but on common sense, except the latter 
be debauched by vain philosophy. Mr. Robinson's History of Baptism you may proba- 
bly have seen before now. It seems to me to be a work of both labor and learning. It 
contains various particulars, in opposition to infant-sprinkling, that are both new and 
pertinent ; but there is much extraneous matter ; there are many indications of rank 
Socianism ; various detestably fanciful interpretations of passages in the Old Testa- 
ment; and such marks of enmity against the character of Augustinus as I did not 
expect. "We have very lately lost by death that worthy Baptist minister, Mr. Robert 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 485 

Hall,* of Arnsby, in Leicestershire. He is, I doubt not, with God, and his memory is 
much respected. 

Socinianism is, I fear, still gaining ground in England, especially in the national 
Establishment; and several of our young Baptist ministers have, within these two or 
three years, adopted that pernicious system of error and of blasphemy. But our divine 
Jesus lives and reigns, to govern the world and to take care of his own cause. 

I hear but little of Mr. Winchester of late, and have never seen him. I am inclined 
to think, however, that his corrupt principles lose rather than gain ground in this 
metropolis. 

Hope you will indulge me with a letter as soon as you can after you receive this ; and 
that, among other things, you will inform me whether my Pedobaptism Examined be 
yet republished. I have been informed that proposals for publishing by subscription 
my essay on the Kingdom of Christ, have appeared at Philadelphia. I was a little sur- 
prised to hear of republishing, by subscription, so small a piece, nothing of that kind 
being issued here. 

It has been and now is a sickly time among my people. Three of the members of the 
church under my imperfect pastoral care have departed out of life since the present 
year came in, and another of them is on the verge of the grave by the envenomed 
tooth of a devouring cancer. The Lord grant that we may be prepared for his whole 
will concerning us. Oh for more genuine spiritual-mindedness ! 

And now, sir, I most affectionately commend you to God, and to the word of his 
grace, earnestly praying that peace and prosperity may attend you and yours and all the 
churches of Christ. I remain, dear sir, 

Your unworthy brother in the gospel of Jesus Christ, 

A. Booth. 
From the Rev. Dr. Rippon, of London. 
Keverend and Dear Sir: 

Last evening Captain Mesnard delivered me his letters from New York, and to-mor- 
row the Eagle sails, so that I haA^e but a few minutes for each letter. 

The Register is taking a prodigious spread through almost all our churches, the 
country friends themselves ordering from fifteen to one hundred copies for each church. 
I feel myself honored in seeing your name among the brethren who encourage the 
design. I refer now to the advertisement in the Philadelphia Association letter. I 
had hoped that I might have received your painting by Captain Mesnard, but I must 
now beseech you to forward it by the very first safe conveyance, informing me at what 
age it was done. Dr. Evans is beautifully engraved, and so is Providence meeting- 
house, from a copy in the Massachusetts Magazine for August, 1789. No part of the Mag- 



1 Father of the celebrated Robert Hall of Cambridge. 



486 brow:n^ uniyersitt chap. xiii. 

azine have I seen besides. The account of the Providence church cannot, I suspect, be 
brought into the First Part of the Register, though, on account of its early date, it 
should be one of the first societies under Article the 8th, where it stands. I would 
not so soon have advertised its insertion, had I not known it would have afforded great 
pleasure to many of our English brethren; though, by the way, some of them are 
astonished at the steeple ! I was the more unwilling to bring this article forward so 
early, because I was unacquainted with your opinion of the narrative. It came here to 
a friend of John Stanford, said to have been written by him and approved by the 
church. Of course you have seen it. No one in the city but myself and the family to 
whom it was sent know that Stanford had any hand in it ; and his name must be entirely 
kept out of sight in this country. If I introduce the account of the church in the 
Second Part of the Register, with your corrections, I dare not go any further than 1787, 
unless you will give the narrative such a finish that the close may introduce your 
present condition. Mr. Foster informs me that Mr. Maxcy (named in your former let- 
ter) has engaged to supply Providence one year. I beg to be affectionately remembered 

to him. I never had any correspondence with Mr. ; am sorry to find he did not 

behave well at Providence. 

The happiness of the American churches lies near my heart. I see my brethren 
have too much neglected them. There is not public spirit enough in this country; but 
I have hinted by this conveyance to two friends, that the Register is intended to serve 
the American brethren particularly. I am sure when we have larger accounts of Ken- 
tucky, well authenticated, the design you proposed a few months since can naturally 
be brought forward; and I have laid some foundation already for its success. This I 
have mentioned to no American but yourself. 

I find Mr. "Wesley's people are aiming to have a new college in America {vide Dr. 
Coke's Missions). I wish I had a good drawing or engraving of your College edifice, 
and a history of the College. I have the printed charter; wish for a proof of the old 
seal, with the explanations thereof. "Would you favor me with the history? Dr. Evans 
has offered an account of the Bristol Academy. If you are too busy, could not Dr. 
Drowne draw it up? I wish I could see Mr. Maxcy's handwriting. I have a copy of 
Robinson's History of Baptism for your acceptance. Hope to send it next month, with 
an article ordered by Dr. Drowne. My respects to him. My Christian love to your 

good lady. 

I remain, affectionately and truly, yours, 

John Rippon. 

P. S. — I dare not dictate, but if the Register meets the approbation of the American 
brethren, perhaps each Association would say what number they would certainly take, 
and appoint the clerk, or some other brother, to convey materials for me to Boston, 
Philadelphia, or New York, from time to time. 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 487 

The " Register," to which Dr. Rippon here refers, proved to be an 
important means of communication between English and American 
Baptists. It is entitled, "The Baptist Annual Register, including 
Sketches of the State of Religion among different denominations of 
good men at home and abroad." It is dedicated to "all baptized min- 
isters and people in America, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, 
the United Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Poland, Russia, Prussia, 
and elsewhere." The first volume includes the years 1790-3. It has 
fine copper-plate engravings of Caleb Evans, Robert Hall, and Presi- 
dent Manning. Full accounts of the College Commencements for 
the years 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792, and 1793, are given, and also Prof. 
Howell's charge to the graduates in 1791, and President Maxcy's 
charge in 1793. The second volume includes the years 1794-7, and 
has engraved portraits of Benjamin Francis, William Clarke, and 
Samuel Stennett. The College Commencements are for the years 1794, 
1795, and 1796. The third volume is for the years 1798-1801, and the 
Commencements are for the years 1797 and 1798. The engraved por- 
traits are Samuel Pearce, Philip Gibbs, John Tommas, John Fawcett, 
and William Rogers. This last we have reproduced to accompany our 
sketch of Dr. Rogers, in a previous chapter. The concluding volume 
is for the years 1801-2. Appended is the famous " Confession of Faith 
put forth by the Elders and Brethren of one hundred baptized Con- 
gregations in England and Wales (denying Arminianism) " in the year 
1689. The only account of Commencement for this volume is for the 
year 1801. The engraved portraits are Samuel Stillman, Jonathan 
Purchas, Isaac Hann, and John Thomas. On page 792 is the view of 
the Baptist meeting-house to which Dr. Rippon refers, with a history 
of the church, by Stanford. These four octavo volumes, which are 
exceeding scarce, constitute an important addition to our Baptist his- 
tor3^ A fine set is in the writer's possession, obtained through the 
kindness of Dr. Angus, late President of Regent's Park College, Lon- 
don. The College Library also has a complete set, which it has recently 
secured through a bookseller at Amsterdam. 



488 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XIII. 

In December, 1790, Dr. Manning addressed a letter to the Rev. 
William Richards, LL. D., of Lynn, England, to which Mr. Richards 
thus replies. The letter, it may be added, did not reach Providence 
until nearly four months after Manning had passed from the scenes of 
his earthly labors. 

Lynn, in Norfolk, Old England, June 6, 1791. 
My Dear Sir: 

Embracing an opportunity which has suddenly and unexpectedly presented itself, 
of sending to America a packet by a private hand, I can do little more than just to 
acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter of the 15th of December, which made its 
way here about the middle of last month, via Liverpool and Birmingham. I sincerely 
thank you, sir, for this favor; and I rejoice exceedingly in the prospect which your 
letter exhibits of the growing greatness and the increasing felicity and prosperity of 
America. I have long been partial to that country, and at a very early period of my 
life (sixteen or seventeen years ago) was on the point of removing from Britain thither. 
The war deterred me then, and for some years after, from accomplishing my purpose ; 
and having been settled in this place some years when the peace took place, I found it 
rather inconvenient then to quit the country. Should I live a few years longer, it is 
still probable that I shall remove, but it is most likely that that removal will be to 
Wales and not to America. I am and have always been very much attached to my dear 
native country ; but I should like it much better were it connected with the United 
States, than as it is, a branch of the corrupt British empire. 

As to the issue of my late controversy with Mr. Carter, my last piece, the History of 
Antichrist, brought it to its conclusion. I have never seen my opponent since, but he 
has repeatedly sent me his friendly compliments, and invited me to call upon him 
whenever I should pass through his neighborhood, but it has not suited me to pay him 
a visit yet. Our Independent brethren have treated their poor Baptist neighbors some- 
what more civilly since this controversy took place than they were wont to do. In 
these counties of Norfolk and Suffolk they are a very powerful body. That party, sir, 
as I suppose you know, originated here, and have continued here ever since, as numer- 
ous and respectable as in any part of Britain. Their ministers are, in general, men of 
considerable abilities and learning, while the Baptist ministers, on the contrary, are 
possessed of but a moderate share of either. The former seemed conscious of their 
superiority, and, in general, affected to treat the latter with the most manifest contempt. 
In short, sir, I am the first of the Particular Baptists, and even of the Baptist denom- 
ination, who has had the temerity to accept a challenge from, or to enter the lists with, 
a Norfolk or Suffolk Independent. I hope the adventure was not altogether useless to 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 489 

the Baptist cause. The Independents have never since discovered the least disposition 
to oppose us again in print ; and it is the general opinion that it will he long before 
they will attempt to jirovoke the Baptists into another paper war. Many of them were 
convinced, during the debate, that the Pedobaptist scheme was not tenable, and they 
of course joined us ; and not one was known to be confirmed, in the mean time, in that 
scheme. 

Since the conclusion of this dispute, I have been called, by the unanimous voice of 
the "Welsh Baptists, to engage in another of a similar nature with the Presbyterians 
and Independents of the Principality, who had just then broken the peace by violently 
attacking their princiijles, and who were likewise strongly supported by the White- 
fieldites, a very numerous body in that country. The person intrusted by them with 
the direction of this war is a Mr. Benjamin Evans, a very popular minister in Cardigan- 
shire, very dexterous and very obstinate in debate, and a perfect adept in the sophist 
and the quibbler's trade. He has already published three pieces, and I am now about 
beginning my third piece in reply. What will be the issue of this war must be left for 
time to determine. My opponent, by the vigor and violence of his exertions, and fre- 
quent rallyings and renewals of the combat, seems to think that he has a great deal at 
stake. He, too, and his brethren, took it for granted that he was greatly sujierior to 
any that the Baptists could call out to opijose them in the Welsh language. God grant 
that the truth may not, in this hard struggle, be anywise dishonored by its very 
unworthy advocate. 

Report says that this controversy has already been productive of some very pleasing 
and happy effects, and that the Baptist interest is likely to be considerably benefited 
by it. I sent a copy of my first Welsh tract to your good Brother Dr. Samuel Jones, 
and had you known the language I should have been very happy to have presented 
you with another, and submitted it to your examination. I deem these much superior 
to my English pieces. They cost me much more thought, and I bestowed much more 
pains upon them every way. 

Some suppose that the piece I have now on hand will be the last of this controversy, 
but that seems to me rather doubtful. I almost think that some things I shall advance 
this time will provoke some kind of a reply. Nor am I at all anxious about that 
matter, so long as our countrymen continue to give us a patient and attentive hearing. 
I am willing to give my labor, and my Welsh brethren seem at present as willing to be 
at the expense of printing what I write. 

The Baptists are very numerous and greatly on the increase in Wales. Some 
churches there are the largest we have in Britain. That of Lanjloffan, in Pembroke- 
shire, which is the largest of all, consists of between eight hundred and nine hundred 
members. The great increase of the Welsh Baptists is seemingly what provoked their 
62 



490 BROWN" UNIVEESITY Chap. XIII. 

tedobaptist brethren to commence this quarrel with them. I hope they will not in the 
end have any cause to triumph over us. 

I have had some thoughts of writing the Life of Roger "Williams. Could you, sir, 
tell me where he was born, or add any materials towards his history, over and above 
what Mr. Backus's history contains ? I have some of his works which Mr. Backus 
never saw. He is with me, in several respects, a favorite character. 

I am sorry to hear of the smallness of your fund, and of your pecuniary difficulties 
at the College. I wish the British Baptists would take your case under consideration, 
and afford you some effectual aid. They ought to do so, I think ; and yet I am afraid it 
will not be an easy matter to persuade them to it, unless some of the Londoners, and 
other opulent Baptists, were to take it up. 

I thought your library was more considerable, and am sorry to ftnd it is not. The 
Bristol Library is now a very capital one by the additions of the collections of Drs. 
Gifford and Llewelyn, and especially the latter, which was a very excellent one. I 
wish some others in this country would bequeath their collections to your College. I 
have myself near fifteen hundred volumes, some of them of value. But a man in my 
situation, in very moderate circumstances, and with a very small salary from the 
congregation, and having withal an aged mother to provide for, — a man in such a 
situation, I say, must make no resolution in matters of this kind. Perhaps my circum- 
stances when I die may not admit of my disposing of my books as I might have wished. 
Therefore please to keep this hint to yourself. Now, my dear sir, I must take my leave. 
May every blessing attend you, is the earnest wish and prayer of 

Your sincere, affectionate, and faithful friend, brother, and servant, 

W. Richards. 

P. S. — Is there any truth, sir, in the reports, which our public papers daily circulate 
in this country, of very dreadful ravages committed by the natives among your people 
about Kentucky and other back-settlements ? I suspect it is only a contrivance of our 
Government for the purpose of checking the progress of emigration, and to persuade 
the good people of Britain that there is not so blessed a country anywhere as their 
own. Our papers are in like manner stuffed with falsehoods relating to the state of 
things in France, and the proceedings of the National Assembly. These tricks will 
not always s.erve their purpose. 

I received a letter lately from Mr. Curtis, son-in-law to the late Mr. Robinson. The 
second volume of Mr. Robinson's long-expected work is now in the press. It is not 
intended to print any more than seven hundred and fifty copies of it, so that I suppose 
it will soon become scarce. It was the author's design to have called it the First Vol- 
ume of the History of the Baptists ; but as he did not live to complete his plan, or to 
finish any more than this volume of it, it is, by the advice of Dr. Abraham Rees, to be 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 491 

entitled Ecclesiastical Kesearches. I am sorry to learn that there are still near four 
hundred copies of the History of Baptism unsold. 

Dear sir, pray pardon the intolerable length and blunders of this scrawl. When I 
began, I little thought I should scribble half so much, nor indeed did I expect that the 
opportunity would permit me to do so, as I thought the messenger could not stay. 
Excuse me this time. 

Mr. Richards ^ was a native of South Wales. At the age of twelve 
he had been at school only one year. From this time till the twenty- 
fourth year of his age, when he entered the academy at Bristol, he 
received no instruction. But his application to study was vigorous and 
persevering. He remained at the academy in Bristol two years. After 
preaching for a short time as an assistant to Dr. John Ash, of Pershore, 
he accepted an invitation from the Baptist Church at Lynn to become 
its pastor, and entered upon his public ministry in that town July 7, 
1776, where he continued to reside — more than half of the time as 
pastor of the church — till his death, which occurred in 1818, in the 
sixty-ninth year of his age. 

Mr. Richards appears to have been a man of learning, particularly 
in English and Welsh history, and in the Welsh language and litera- 
ture. His writings are historical, political and controversial." His 
most important work is the History of Lynn, in 2 vols. 8vo. Dr. 
Evans says of it: "It is not only well written, the style perspicuous 
and manly, but it is replete with information as well as entertain- 
ment." His review of Noble's Memoirs of the Protectoral House of 
Cromwell is characterized by Lowndes' as " severe, but at the same time 
just." 

" His Dictionary of Welsh and English," says Dr. Evans, "a work 
of minute and wearisome labor, is in high repute." Mr. Richards was 
of the General Baptist denomination, and a strong advocate of religious 
liberty. It was his love of the liberal character of the College which 



iSee Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Rev. "W illiam Richards, LL.D., by John Evans, LL.D., 
of Islington. 12mo. Chiswick, 1819. 

- For a list of his writings, — comprising nearly the whole, — see under his name in the catalogue 
of the College library. 

' Bibliographer's Manual. 



492 BEOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XIII. 

induced him to bestow upon it his library, as appears from the following 
passage in his Memoirs : — 

Mr. Richards had corresponded with Dr. James Manning, once President of the 
Baptist College in Rhode Island. From this gentleman he learned the liberal constitu- 
tion of that respectable seminary, and for some years previous to his death meant to 
bequeath to it his library. He accordingly made inquiry of Dr. Rogers [of Philadel- 
phia], whether it was still conducted on the same liberal footing, in which case he 
should cherish the same generous intentions towards it. 

This inquiry was answered by Dr. Messer, then President of the 
College, in a letter, from which we extract a single passage : — 

Though the charter requires that the President shall forever be a Baptist, it allows 
neither him, in his official character, nor any other officer of instruction, to inculcate 
any sectarian doctrine. It forbids all religious test ; and it requires that all denomina- 
tions of Christians, behaving alike, shall be treated alike. The charter is congenial 
with the whole of the civil government established here by the venerable Roger Wil- 
liams, who allowed no religious tests, and no preeminence of one denomination over 
another ; and none has ever been allowed unto this day. This charter is also congenial 
with the present spirit of this State and of this town. 

Gratified with this letter, Mr. Richards, in accordance with the pur- 
pose which he had cherished twenty-seven years previous to his death, 
and which he mentions in his letter to Dr. Manning, bequeathed his 
books, consisting of about thirteen hundred volumes, to Brown Univer- 
sity. This was the most important donation that the Library had as yet 
received. It is a singular fact, that his will was made on the very day 
on which the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon 
him by the College. Mr. Richards had received no intimation that the 
honor was intended for him, nor did he live to hear that it had been 
bestowed. 

The library which he thus bequeathed is in many respects valuable. 
It contains a considerable number of Welsh books, a large collection 
of works illustrating the history and antiquities of England and Wales, 
besides two or tlii'ee hundred bound volumes of pamphlets, some of 
them very ancient, rare, and curious. The collection is particularly 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 493 

valuable for its treatises on civil and religious liberty. The original 
manuscript catalogue of Mr. Richarcls's library came into the writer's 
hands a few years since. It is now among the archives of the Library. 

Dr. Evans, in his account of Brown University, appended to his 
Life of Richards, says : " Whilst the library of my friend Richards 
remains amongst them, to perpetuate the name and character of its 
donor, may it urge its worthy President, as well as the members of this 
truly respectable Institution, to the continued exercise of that spirit of 
liberality which induced an honest Cambro-Britain, at the distance of 
three thousand miles, to mark and reward it." 

The last letter from Manning of which we have any account, is 
addressed to his college classmate and life-long friend, the Rev. Dr. 
Hezekiah Smith : — 

Providence, 4th June, 1791. 
Dear Sir: 

Yours of Feb. 15th ult. came to hand three months to a day after it was written, so 
that we now stand on even ground. As you say of mine, it met a welcome reception. 
I am sorry it has not been in my power to jirovide for Mr. Messer agreeably to my 
wishes and ideas of his merit. There will be an opening at Providence for a tutor in 
the fall; but Mr. Alden, of senior standing, appears to incline to fill the place. If so, 
there will be an opening at Taunton in the academy which he will leave. I hope that 
Mr. Messer may be accommodated at one or other of these berths. Please to present 
my best respects to him, and tell him he shall have my interest. Ere this comes to 
hand, the news of the departure of our two good friends, Messrs. John Jenckes and 
Nicholas Brown, must have reached you. Providence, church, and society are bereaved 
indeed! But Jesus lives, and lives to support his cause when earthly supporters fail. 

The affairs of the College do not prosper as I could wish. "With the twenty-two 
who graduated last fall, we have lost twenty-nine this year, which is a great defalca- 
tion from our small number. More are about to come soon, but I think it will be some 
time before we shall make the number of last year good. Our number is about fifty- 
five. The last intelligence from Brother Gano is, that early this spring his kitchen 
caught fire by accident, and consumed with it all their kitchen furniture, smoked 
meat, etc. Poor ill-fated man! He is not to have his portion here. Well, I believe 
he is secure of it above. I am glad to hear that you found my friends, the Newbolds, 
agreeable. I saw Caleb at New York a few days since, and he mentioned you with great 
affection, as also all the eastern people to whom he was introduced. I saw none of 



494 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. XIII. 

your relations to the westward, as my journey was hasty and. attended with husiness. 
Nothing remarkable in the Middle States in a religious way, save that Brother Foster 
and people are very happy and prosperous. The Second Church rent again, and in a 
miserable situation. Our old friends generally well. My brother Enoch died in Feb- 
ruary last, and John Manning, Esq., my cousin; also Aunt Randolph, wife of Uncle 
Ephraim. The people of Providence have chosen Mr. Maxcy for their minister, and he 
has resigned his tutorship and accepted. He gives very general satisfaction, and 
promises usefulness. Religious impressions are not all erased from the minds of the 
people here. "With best respects to you and lady, in which Mrs. Manning joins, 

Your old friend, 

Jambs Manning. 

Dr. Manning, as his correspondence shows, had repeatedly and 
earnestly requested his people to seek for a proper person to succeed 
him in the ministry. This he did, not because his interest in preaching 
had diminished, but rather on account of his multiplied duties as Pres- 
ident of the College, which would not permit him to do justice to his 
flock. ' ' At length, in a most honorable way, he resigned his pastoral 
office." On the last Sabbath in April, 1791, a few months only before 
his death, he preached to the people of his charge his farewell sermon. 
The occasion was one of unusual solemnity. For twenty years he had 
been to them their spiritual guide. Under his teachings and influence 
the church had been greatly improved in its discipline and worship, and 
the society had become large and flourishing. Revivals had attended 
upon his ministry, so that again and again he had come to them " in 
the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ," announcing to not 
a few "glad tidings of great joy." Scores of his hearers he had led 
down into the baptismal waters. And now, as he uttered from the 
pulpit his last affectionate address, and, as if in prophetic anticipation 
of his approaching end, expressed the improbability of his ever preach- 
ing to them again, sorrow filled their hearts, and their emotions found 
utterance in sobs and tears. 

At a meeting of the Corporation held on the 13th of April, Dr. 
Manning had notified them to look out for a successor to fill his place ; 
and shortly after preaching his farewell sermon, he had made a request 
in writing for a meeting of the Baptist society, to make arrangements 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 495 

for finishing the meeting-house and lot, stating in this request that it 
would probably be his last. What gave him this singular presentiment of 
his approaching mortality, can never, perhaps, be ascertained.^ It proved, 
alas ! to be but too well founded. On Saturday, July 23d, he dined at 
the hospitable table of his friend, Mr. John Brown. On Sabbath morn- 
ing following, while uttering the voice of prayer around the domestic 
altar, he was seized with a fit of apoplexy, in which he remained, but 
with imperfect consciousness, till the ensuing Friday, when, about four 
o'clock in the morning, he expired, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. 

The sudden death of a man who was universally esteemed and 
loved, and had filled, for so many years, such various and com- 
manding stations of usefulness and trust, produced throughout the 
entire community the most profound sorrow, reaching to every part of 
the city in which he lived. When, a month previous, his intimate 
friend and associate, Nicholas Brown, whose munificence had flowed in 
a thousand channels, and whose example had given a new impulse to 
the public mind, quitted the scene which he had so long adorned with 
his presence and enriched with his bounty, it was to be expected that 
there would be, as there was, a general expression of sorrow and regret. 
But that the removal of a Christian minister, and a teacher of science 
and letters, who possessed none of the advantages of wealth, but whose 
later years, on the contrary, had been oppressed by economic solicitude 
and care, should produce a regret so universal and so deep, "is a pleas- 
ing homage ' ' — adopting the language of Robert Hall on a similar 
occasion — " to the majesty of moral power and intellectual greatness." 

The Corporation immediately assembled in the College Hall, when 
the death of the President was announced by the Hon Jabez Bo wen, 
LL. D., Chancellor. Among other demonstrations of respect and affec- 
tion for the deceased, a committee, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Hitchcock, 
and Messrs. John Brown and George Benson, was appointed to wait on 
Mrs. Manning, and express to her their sincere condolence on the death 
of her "late worthy husband." Messrs. Joseph Russell, Welcome 



1 It is more than probable that he had had a previous stroke of apoplexy, and thus knew that he 
■was liable to a second stroke which might prove fatal. 



496 BROWN UNIYEESITY Chap. XIII. 

Arnold, and George Benson, were also appointed a committee to superin- 
tend the funeral, the expenses thereof to be defrayed by the Corporation. 

On Saturday, July 30th, the next day after his death, the remains 
of Dr. Manning were conveyed from his residence to the College Hall, 
where the funeral solemnities were performed by the Rev. Dr. Hitch- 
cock, at that time the pastor of the Congregational church in Provi- 
dence, and one of the most active Fellows of the College. "The 
funeral," says Prof. Goddard, "though a public one, was no empty 
pageant. Multitudes flocked to the College, to look for the last time 
upon a face which had so often beamed upon them in kindness ; and 
multitudes followed him to the grave which was so soon to hide him 
forever from their sight." Indeed, the funeral, in the language of the 
Providence Gazette^ was thought to "have been the most numerous 
and respectable ever attended in town." 

The remains, placed upon a hearse,^ were borne to the north bury- 
ing-ground, where they now rest by the side of Nicholas Brown, in the 
family lot. "United in life, in death they are not separated." The 
following was the order of the funeral procession : — 

Students. 

Steward. 

Graduates of the College. 

Tutors. 

Professors Fobes and West. 

the corpse. 

Mourners in a coach. 

Chancellor of the College. 

Members of the Corporation. 

Clergy. 

Physicians. 

Members of the Baptist Church. 

Citizens in general. 



1 We have it upon the authority of the late Mr. John B. Chace, that at Dr. Manning's funeral a 
hearse was used for the first time in Providence. It was owned, says the late Samuel G. Arnold, 
in his " Anniversary Address," by the Charitable Baptist Society, and was imported from England. 
In 1795 an account of receipts for its use was rendered by the Sexton. These receipts soon became 
one of his perquisites. The hearse was kept in the basement of the meeting-house, a part of which 
was for many years let as a cellar. 



178^1791. AND MANNING. 497 

On the ensuing Sabbath, an eloquent and impressive funeral sermon 
was preached in the Baptist meeting-house, by the Rev. Perez Fobes, 
LL.D., pastor of the Congregational church in Raynham, Massachu- 
setts, and also Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy in 
the College. A sermon was also preached on the same day by the 
Rev. Prof. Maxcy, Manning's successor in the pulpit and in the Col- 
lege. Both these sermons were afterwards published. From the former 
we cannot forbear making brief extracts : — 

The amiable Manning has given up the ghost; and where is he? Not in the Col- 
lege, where lately we saw him presiding with mild dignity and parental affection, 
greatly beloved by every member of that collected family ; not in the house of God, 
where he often met you ; nor in the pulpit, where you have so frequently heard him 
preach the glad tidings of great joy ; — not at the communion-table, breaking to you 
the bread of life, and praying for the health of languishing souls ; not in his own 
house, with his family and friends around him, where he was ever known as the 
revered head and illustrious example of religion, of government, and of every 
domestic and social virtue. No, he is not here. 

The Corporation of the College, with the instructors and students, all feel and 
recognize the loss. Their hearts echo to the voice of mourning, to the deep-toned bell, 
and to all the badges of sorrow. With multitudes around us, we have dropped the 
involuntary tear. We have felt the sigh unbidden heave, and followed the hearse, 
solemn and slow, with a numerous train of mourners, all united in the attestation of 
high esteem and affection for the lamented man of God. We are witnesses, and God 
also, how piously, and justly, and unblamably he lived among us, — we are witnesses 
to the amiableness of his natural temper. How pleasing his condescension and 
affability! How conspicuous his candor and impartiality, even in circumstances of 
peculiar trial ! These, added to a strong mind, well furnished with useful learning, 
and with amj^le resources for eloquence, popularity, and pleasing address, rendered 
him highly esteemed through the large circle of his acquaintance. But, alas ! all these 
amiable and useful qualities could not exempt him from the fate of mortals. 

To the foregoing, we add several letters by Dr. Manning's intimate 
friends, announcing his death, together with extracts from a Com- 
mencement oration, and the circular letters of the Warren and Phila- 
delphia Associations. The following letter is addressed to the Rev. 
Dr. Hezekiah Smith : — 

03 



498 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

Boston, July 30, 1791. 
Dear Sir : 

I am sorry to be the messenger of news that will give you pain, but you must know 
it. Dr. Manning was taken with a fainting fit last Lord's Day morning, at family 
prayer, and expired yesterday morning, at half-past four o'clock. The complaint was 
of the apoplectic kind. He had no senses from the time he was taken. Great the loss 
to his amiable wife, great to the College and Baptists in general. But the Lord reigns ; 
submission to him is our certain duty. "We must immediately look around for a person 
to fill his place ; but where to find him I know not. What think you of Mr. Allison, or 
Dr. Jones? Has the former had a public education? Or has the latter the various 
qualifications for a President? You and I must exert ourselves on this occasion. 
Friends at Providence and elsewhere will expect it. Write freely to me on this sub- 
ject. I suppose it will be best that Mr. Howell be desired to preside at the next Com- 
mencement, as the oldest Fellow. Peace be with you. Adieu. 

Yours, 

Samuel Stillman. 

The following letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones gives particulars 
of Manning's death and funeral. It was written, it will be observed, in 
behalf of the members of the Corporation of the College, and in an 
informal manner, designates Mr. Jones as Manning's successor in the 
presidency. 

Providence, Aug. 3, 1791. 
Dear Sir : 

Before these lines will come to your hands you will doubtless have heard the melan- 
choly tidings of the death of our late worthy President Manning. He departed this 
life about four o'clock on Friday morning, the 29th ult., after an illness of only five days, 
during which time he discovered little or no signs of reason. His funeral was attended 
last Saturday. It was the largest and most solemn that I have seen in this place. I 
need not tell you that his death is universally lamented by all ranks of people, but the 
loss is more severely felt by the Corporation of the College, and by the students under 
his care. As he was the founder of the College, and celebrated for many shining abili- 
ties which peculiarly qualified him to preside in it, we are apprehensive that the Institu- 
tion may suffer a temporary relapse, unless some known and established character can 
be induced to supply the vacancy soon. 

At a meeting of as many of the Corporation in this town as could be readily convened 
to take into consideration measures relative to the ensuing Commencement, some con- 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 499 

versation passed about the election of a President, when it was the voice of all present 
that I should write to you on the subject and call on you for assistance on this occasion, 
so critical to the interests of the College. It is our unanimous and very earnest 
request, dear sir, that you will come to our help. The eyes of the Corporation seem 
fixed on you for a successor to President Manning. 

From my long acquaintance with you, I have not the least doubt of your disposition 
to serve the best interests of mankind. A door seems now opened in divine Providence 
to call forth to public usefulness those great and very useful talents I know you possess. 
Let me entreat you to consider the application weightily. I am sure you will do it 
sensibly. I am here to request a line from you in answer, by the first post after the 
receipt of this letter, or as soon as you find it convenient to give us an answer to the 
subject of it, and I have it in charge in particular and very urgently to request your 
attendance with us at the ensuing Commencement. 

Pray give my respects to Mrs. Jones, by whom I trust I am still remembered, and to 
any others in your good family to whom I may be known, and to inquiring friends. 
With very great esteem, I remain, dear sir. 

Your affectionate friend and very humble servant, 

David Howell. 

To the Rev. Dr. Rippon, of London, the Rev. Isaac Backus, under 
date of Aug. 19, 1791, writes : — 

I was with President Manning two days in June past, and when 1 parted with him, 
the 8th of that month, I had as little thought of its being the last parting for time, as 
at any parting we ever had. But near night, on July 29, I received a line from Provi- 
dence, informing me of his decease at four o'clock that morning. I went there the first 
instant, and met the College Corporation the next day, who have thought of Dr. Jones 
for his successor, if he can be obtained ; but we have no idea of obtaining any man who 
will equal President Manning in all respects, at least soon. His extensive knowledge, 
fervent piety, constant study to be serviceable to mankind, — his easy access to every 
class of people, with his gift of governing so as to be feared and loved by all, where 
keen envy did not prevail, — rendered him the most accomplished man for that station 
of any one I ever saw. Yet, in the midst of his usefulness, he is gone, as universally 
lamented as any man that I have known. 

The following letter to Dr. Rippon from Solomon Drowne, is pre- 
served among the Drowne papers. After alluding to Dr. Manning's 
death, it gives an interesting account of his portrait, and of the College 
which he in one sense founded : — 



500 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

A stroke somewhat similar to that which deprived you of the excellent Evana, 
though slower in its operation, deprived us of the Father of our College, — one of the 
best of mortals. A gloom now hangs over that hill, which his benignant countenance 
once irradiated. On this occasion we may apply the lines of your illustrious Shaks- 
peare, " He was a man, take him for all in all, we ne'er shall look upon his like again." 
I can now strike hands with you in grief, and exchange sigh for sigh. But in these dark 
dispensations it is ours to humble ourselves and learn acquiescence. 

Doctor Manning was thirty-two years old when his picture was done. You will see 
it was not the production of an eminent artist, though deemed a pretty good likeness at 
that time. He wore his own graceful hair, and there was a dignity in his port and 
countenance, which that picture by no means reaches. Providence College, founded in 
1765 (the charter dates from 1764) has sprung up and still flourishes, though the tem- 
pestuous billows of an eight years' war have rolled over its infancy. It is one of those 
rare institutions that unpatronized by the great, merely by the generous subscriptions 
of private citizens, in a country not wealthy, exhibits to the world a noble temple of 
science, evincing at once its founders' love of literature, and their invincible persever- 
ance. Though the snakes of envy attempted to crush the Institution in its cradle, yet 
from its own native hardihood and excellency, it rose to its present distinguished sta- 
tion among the literary luminaries of our country. On an eminence east of the town 
is situated the magnificent College edifice, commanding an extensive and picturesque 
view of the adjacent country, the Bay with the islands it embosoms, and the adjacent 
town. 

At the Commencement in 1791, an " Oration on the Death of Rev. 
President Manning " was delivered by Simeon Doggett, of the class of 
1788, then a candidate for the Master's degree. Mr. Doggett was a 
tutor in the College from 1791 to 1796. He afterwards had the charge 
of an academy in Taunton, Mass. He was pastor of the Congregational 
church in Mendon, Mass., from 1815 to 1831, and from the latter year 
to 1846, was the pastor of the Congregational church in Rayuham. He 
died March 20, 1852, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. From his 
oration on Manning, which is preserved in manuscript among the College 
archives, we present extracts : — 

He is gone, alas! never to return. No more, O Manning! must thou grace that 
sacred desk with thy majestic presence. No more shall the temple of the Lord seem 
like the gates of heaven from the sweet droppings of thy lips. No more shall Christian 
assemblies be moved, be pleased, be instructed, be enraptured by thy inspired tongue. 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 501 

No more shalt thou lead the devout heart up to the throne of God. No more shall thy 
conciliating tongue and precious counsels be heard in church and state. Thy placid 
countenance, thy pleasing converse, thy soft and graceful manners shall no more delight 
the friendly circle. No more shall you, respected patrons of yonder seat of learning, 
boast of the shining character of your President and friend. No more shall we, my 
dear elder brothers, sit in council with our wise, our mild, our beloved President. . . . 
O, relentless Death ! — not even the worth of a Manning could elude thy stroke. But in 
the midst of his usefulness, when that nursery of science, planted and reared by his 
fostering hand, extending its branches, began to require all those abilities to inspect 
and preserve it which were exerted to rear it; when it was under his watchful eye and 
industrious hand, flourishing in all the beauties of knowledge, and moulding human 
nature into her most pleasing forms ; when he began to see and rejoice in the 
fruit of his labors, in the midst of all his glory, cruel Death! thou hast suddenly 
snatched him away, and hurried him to the grave. . . . Though these his exertions 
to increase knowledge were almost unparalleled, yet merely to increase knowledge was 
not his end, but the means, the end of which was to regenerate the heart and to advance 
the Redeemer's kingdom. Hence, while engaged to promote learning, he was still more 
engaged to jiromote religion. Of this all his pupils are witnesses who have seen his 
devotion and enjoyed his instructions. How naturally at our College exercises would a 
very slight connection lead his discoi;rse to moral and religious subjects ! Upon these 
subjects, with what additional ardor would he discourse! These occasions seemed to add 
new life to his faculties. They would add warmth to his heart, brightness to his under- 
standing, and eloquence to his tongue. And still more did his devotion ever show that 
his heart's desire and constant prayer to God was that true religion might flourish. 
And of this his pupils are not the only witnesses. All Christian societies within his 
extensive acquaintance, especially those of this town, are also witnesses. It was this 
which led him to the study of divinity, and finally made him so eminent in the minis- 
try. It was this which caused him, like the primitive apostles, to travel through all 
parts of the country to instruct, to purify, to organize, and to confirm the church. . . 
Perhaps no one of his age had a greater influence in the Redeemer's kindgom ; and his 
usefulness was parallel with his influence. And was it not also this ardent desire for 
the triumph of religion that inspired him with such distinguished eloquence? Few 
preachers of his age spoke like him. He moved, he pleased, he instructed all who 
heard him. Notwithstanding the diversity of dispositions, and the indifference of 
hearts in Christian assemblies, his eloquence made its way to all. Sometimes clothing 
himself with the threatenings of the lav.r, he seemed to thunder forth all the terrors of 
Mount Sinai, causing the most hardened and stubborn sinners to tremble before him. 
At other times, putting on the garment of mildness, the peace of the gospel, his elo- 
quence breathed naught but benevolence, diffusing tenderness, and melting all hearts 



502 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

into grief and love. Thus following this great man from his first appearance upon the 
stage of active life to his disappearance, we invariably find him holding in his left hand 
the classics, in his right the Word of God, with his eye fixed on the good of mankind, 
widely diffusing, as he passed along, knowledge, and religion, and happiness. Here we 
might add his more particular character. We might amplify the majestic but mild 
beauties of his person and appearance ; the vast resources of his mind ; the uncommon 
greatness of his acquirements, considering the activity of his life ; his remarkably 
amiable disposition ; his astonishingly popular talents, and his distinguished and 
inflexible virtue and piety. . . . Time not affording me the pleasure of further 
addressing the particular connections of this great naan, I proceed to ask whether a 
character so distinguished, so useful, so amiable, could possibly be the object of detrac- 
tion? Alas! the depravity of human nature, it could, it was. ^ But mark the issue. 
Where now is detraction ? Confounded with shame and remorse, she has forever hidden 
her head. The universal lamentation at his death, the surprising throng of mourners 
at his funeral, and the universal approbation of his character, have eternally stopped 
her mouth, and reflected her deadly shafts back upon herself, where they will continue 
to sting like serpents, and to caution her to be careful how she deals with real merit. 

The circular letter of the Warren Association alludes to the death 
of Manning as a great loss in Zion : — 

Should we close this letter without taking notice of the providence of God in the 
removal of two of our ministers by death the year past, we should betray a criminal 
inattention. The one is Brother Nathaniel Green, of Charlton, who hath long sustained 
a good character in our churches. The other was our much esteemed Brother Jambs 
Manning, D. D., President of Rhode Island College, whose abilities and usefulness 
were well known to us all, and whose attention to the interests of learning and religion 
justly claim our esteem. Oh that the great head of the Church, in whom are all gifts 
and grace, would favor us with other persons of equal accomplishments, that thereby 
the breaches in the walls of Zion maybe built up. 

From the circular letter of the Philadelphia Association we also make 
an extract : — 



1 The feeling between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, as they were called, was at this 
time exceedingly bitter. Dr. Manning being an acknowledged leader among the former, would, of 
course, meet with opposition and even hate from the rival party. Again, he was through all his 
connection with the College the acknowledged leader among the Baptists of New England, who 
were continually opposed by the Pedobaptists, or Standing Order. 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 503 

But our joys abate while we reflect on the heavy tidings, so generally mentioned in 
your letters, of the death of our highly esteemed and^ dearly beloved brother, Dr. 
Manning; who, engaged in the dearest interests of religion, of science, and the pros- 
perity of his country, fell from the zenith of glory and usefulness. In the general loss 
we sustain an important part. No longer shall we enjoy his able counsels, his divine 
and persuasive eloquence, nor his personal friendship. But while we trust he fell to 
rise to higher, to celestial glories, and joys unspeakable, resignation becomes us. May 
the Lord sanctify to the churches and ministers of Christ the awful stroke, enable us to 
feel and faithfully discharge the duties devolving on us, and imitate his amiable 
example. 

A review of Dr. Manning's life, as presented in the several chap- 
ters of our work, affords a pleasing illustration of the truth which 
Cowper has so well expressed, — 

" God gives to every man 
The virtue, temper, understanding, taste, 
That lifts him into life, and lets him fall 
Just in the niche be was ordained to fill." 

It only remains to add a few particulars relating to Manning's per- 
sonal appearance, habits, character, and influence. This we shall do in 
the language of his intimate friend, and early associate in the instruc- 
tion of the College, the Hon. David Howell, who wrote his obituary 
notice, and also penned the inscription upon the stone erected by 
the Trustees and Fellows of the College to his memory. The following 
extracts from this obituary were originally published in the Pi'ovidence 
Crazette for Saturday, Aug. 6, 1791 : — 

In his youth he was remarkable for his dexterity in athletic exercises, for the sym- 
metry of his body, and gracefulness of his person. His countenance was stately and 
majestic, full of dignity, goodness, and gravity; and the temper of his mind was a 
counterpart to it. He was formed for enterprise. His address was pleasing, his man- 
ner enchanting, his voice harmonious, and his eloquence almost irresistible. 

Having deeply imbibed the spirit of truth himself, as a preacher of the gospel, he 
was faithful in declaring the whole counsel of God. He studied plainness of speech and 
to be useful more than to be celebrated. The good order, learning and respectability of 
the Baptist churches in the Eastern States are much owing to his assiduous attention to 



504 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

their welfare. The credit of his name, and his personal influence among them, have 
never, perhaps, heen exceeded by any other character. 

Of the College he must be considered, in one sense, as the founder. He presided 
with the singular advantage of a superior personal appearance, added to all his shining 
talents for governing and instructing youth. From the first beginning of his Latin 
school at Warren, through many discouragements he has, by constant care and labor, 
raised this seat of learning to notice, to credit, and to respectability in the United 
States. Perhaps the history of no other College will disclose a more rapid progress or 
greater maturity, in the course of about twenty-five years. 

Although he seemed to be consigned to a sedentary life, yet he was capable of more 
active scenes. He had paid much attention to the government of his country, and had 
been honored by this State with a seat in the Old Congress. In state affairs he discov- 
ered an uncommon degree of sagacity, and might have made a figure as a politician. 

In classical learning he was fully competent to the business of teaching, although he 
devoted less time than some others in his station to the study of the more abstruse 
sciences. In short, nature seemed to have furnished him so completely, that little 
remained for art to accomplish. The resources of his genius were great. In conversa- 
tion he M-as at all times pleasant and entertaining. He had as many friends as acquaint- 
ances, and took no less pains to serve his friends than to acquire them. 

His death is a loss, not to the College or church only, but to the world. He is 
lamented by the youth under his care, by the churches, by his fellow-citizens; and 
wherever his name has been heard, in whatever quarter of the civilized earth, the 
friends of science, of virtue and humanity will drop a tender tear on the news of his 
death. 

His amiable lady, the wife of his youth, and the boast of her sex, with all her forti- 
tude of mind, which is great, must have sunk under the distressing loss were she not 
sustained by divine grace. May Heaven continue to support her, for earth must have 
lost its charms. Few persons ever enjoyed a more excellent constitution, or better 
health. Increasing corpulence, occasioned chiefly by his confinement to the labors of 
his station (for he was temperate in his diet), gave him some complaints of ill-health of 
late years ; but what in particular furnished him with a singular presentiment of his 
mortality, is unknown. 

The following is the inscription penned by Judge Howell, and 
copied from his tomb-stone in the North Burying Ground : — 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 505 

In memory of 

The Rev. James Manning, D. D., 

President 

of Rhode Islaud College. 

He was born in New-Jersey, A. D. 1738, 

Became a member of a Baptist Church, A. D. 1758, 

Graduated at Nassau Hall, A. D. 1762, 

Was ordained a Minister of the Gospel, A. D. 1763, 

Obtained a Charter for the College, A. D. 1765,* 

Was elected President of it the same year, 

And was a Member of Congress, A. D. 1786. 

His person was graceful, 
And his countenance remarkably expressive 
Of sensibilty, cheerfulness and dignity. 
The A'ariety and excellence of his natural abilities. 

Improved by education and enriched by science, 
Raised him to a rank of eminence among literary 

Characters. 

His manners were engaging, his voice harmonious. 

His eloquence natural and powerful. 

His Social Virtues, Classic Learning, Eminent Patriotism, 

Shining talents for instructing and governing youth, 

And zeal in the cause of Christianity, 

Are recorded on the tablets of many hearts. 

He died of an apoplexy, July 29, 1791, 

Aetat 53. 

The Trustees and Fellows of the College have erected 

This monument. 

1793. 

The likeness of President Manning accompanying the present work 
was engraved from an original portrait, which has long been in the 



' It is a matter of surprise that one so intimately acquainted with Manning as was Judge Howell, 
and eonnected with the College almost from the beginning, should have given this date for the 
Charter, which, as we have seen, was granted by the Legislature at the February session, 1764. True 
it was not signed and sealed until October 24, 1765; but the Corporation held its first meeting under 
the Charter in September, 1764, elected its officers, and transacted business, as the records from 
which we have in a previous chapter given extracts, fully show. 

64 



506 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

possession of the University. It was painted in the year 1770, by 
Cosmo Alexander, a Scotch gentleman, who came from Edinburgh 
about this time, and is said to have given Gilbert Stuart his first lessons 
in drawing. Dr. Drowne, in his letter to the Rev. Dr. Rippon 
announcing the President's decease, has given a good description of the 
painting. Mr. Rippon, in his correspondence with Manning, had 
requested the loan of it for an engraving for the Baptist Register. Mr. 
Thomas MuUett, in a letter addressed to Manning, dated Bristol, 
October 5, 1791, nearly four months after Manning's decease, thus 
writes concerning it : — "I took the necessary care of your picture, 
delivered it to Mr. Rippon's order, and your letter into his own hands." 
The engraving appeared in the first volume of the Register, together 
with Judge Howell's obituary notice, and an extract from the funeral 
sermon preached by the Rev. Prof. Maxcy. On the decease of Mrs. 
Manning in 1815, the painting came into the possession of the Univer- 
sity. A second and larger portrait, painted from the original by James 
S. Lincoln, a Providence artist, at the expense of Messrs. Brown & 
Ives, was presented to the Corporation about the year 1840. The origi- 
nal remained in Mr. Lincoln's office many years, covered with dust and 
forgotten, until it was brought to the attention of the writer. Through 
his exertions it was placed in the hands of a skilful artist to be restored, 
and then encased in an elegant frame. It now graces the Collection of 
Portraits in Sayles Memorial Hall. 

Our task is done. We have endeavored to trace the origin, and to 
exhibit the early progress, of Rhode Island College, or, as it is now 
called. Brown University. So far as possible, we have allowed the 
writers, the actors, and the records of the past, to tell their own story 
in their own way, having no theories to advance, and no interests save 
those of truth and justice to subserve. That members of the Philadel- 
phia Baptist Association planned the College in the outset, admits not 
even the shadow of a doubt. It was designed, in the language of the 
preface to Morgan Edwards's subscription book, " to adorn human 
nature, and promote the true interests and happiness of mankind," by 
disseminating sound knowledge and useful literature. Its main design, 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 507 

however, was to secure for the churches an educated ministry. For this 
its friends toiled and prayed, amidst difficulties and discouragements, 
growing out of indifference on the one hand, and opposition on the other. 
Under the auspices of its devoted President it became a centre of influ- 
ence, and a rallying point for the denomination, "greatly promoting," 
says Manning, " Baptist principles, and the spread of civil and religious 
liberty throughout New England, . . . and adding respectability to 
the Baptist profession." 

We have traced the career of Dr. Manning from its commencement 
to its close, and, so far as our materials would admit, have made him his 
own biographer. Our readers have thus obtained a more correct idea of 
his character and life than could have been obtained by any formal deline- 
ation of his virtues as a man, or of his genius as an educator, a states- 
man, and a preacher. Devotion to the interests of the College appears 
to have been the animating motive of his conduct, and the improvement 
and elevation of the Baptist denomination through the College, the 
object and aim of his entire professional life. The sentiment, so beauti- 
fully expressed by Dr. South, that " the Spirit always guides and 
instructs before he saves ; and as he brings to happiness only by the 
ways of holiness, so he never leads to true holiness but by the paths of 
knowledge," was by no means an universal sentiment, it will be 
observed, in the days of Manning. The Baptists as a denomination 
were not specially friendly to learning, and the provision for the educa- 
tion of their clergy was exceedingly limited. To the work of removing 
existing prejudices against collegiate institutions, and of securing for 
the denomination to which he was attached the benefits of an educated 
ministry, he devoted his best energies. His mental acquisitions, his 
distinguished piety, his great ministerial excellence, which, combined 
with his natural gifts and endowments, gave him so rare and extensive 
an influence over the minds of men, were all alike consecrated to this 
one cherished object. For this he declined, at the beginning of his pub- 
lic life, the call of the church at Charleston, having already committed 
himself to the interests of the College. For this he resigned his pas- 
toral charge at Warren, greatly to the surprise and the regret of his 



508 BROWN- UNIVERSITY Chap. XIII. 

people. For this he perse veringly labored amidst the discouragements 
of poverty, the opposition of enemies, the indifference of friends, and 
the conflicts of war. To benefit the College he left its quiet shades, and 
the pulpit where his labors had been honored and blest, and entered the 
arena of political strife ; and when his object was attained, so far as it 
could be through his own personal exertions, he returned from the halls 
of Congress to his accustomed duties, resisting all the allurements of 
political life and the public distinctions to which his talents would natu- 
rally have entitled him. And toward the close of his career, although 
in the midst of gracious manifestations of the Divine presence, and 
enjoying the emoluments of a large and flourishing church and society, 
which had been built up mainly through his exertions, he again and 
again requested his people to provide a successor in the pastorate, in 
order that he might give himself more exclusively to the care of the 
College, and to the great work of laying broad and deep the foundations 
for an educated Baptist ministry. In all this "he labored," says Pro- 
fessor Goddard, " not for himself, but for others, and in language breath- 
ing a holier inspiration than that of poetry, may be conveyed the grand 
moral of his life : — 

' Love thyself last ; 
Let all the ends thou alm'st at be thy country's, 
Thy God's and truth's.' " 

The narrative has, in several instances, presented illustrations of 
sectarian bitterness, of which Manning and his associates were some- 
times the objects, and also of the unfair dealings to which the College 
in its infancy was subjected, but it is only as a part of the history of 
the times, and, we trust, only in the spirit of candor and historical 
fidelity. The animosities and strifes of a hundred years and more ago 
have long since been buried, and both the College and its self-sacrificing 
founders are enshrined in the reverence and affection of all, of every 
denomination, who have shared in the manifold benefits they have 
conferred upon mankind. Ma}^ the record here made of the conse- 
crated benevolence and the persevering efforts of our fathers stimulate 



1789-1791. AND MANNING. 509 

the patrons and friends of Brown University, which at its centennial 
anniversary in 1864 entered upon the second century of its existence, 
to renewed exertions on its behalf ; and may all its scattered sons, and 
the religious denomination especially whose present prosperity is so 
largely due to his intelligent devoted labors, hold in grateful remem- 
brance the virtues, the talents, and the piety of James Manning. 

. " Peace to the just man's memory, — let it grow 

Greener with years, and blossom through the flight 

Of ages ; let the mimic canvas show 

His calm benevolent features ; let the light 

Stream on his deeds of love, that shun'd the sight 

Of all but heaven ; and, in the book of fame. 

The glorious record of his virtues write. 

And hold it up to men, and bid them claim 

A palm like his, and catch from him the hallow'd flame." 



Appendix. 

HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 

1763-1896. 

History of the Charter one of struggle against opposing influences — Professor Knowles 
on Roger Williams — Origin of the College to be found in connection with Hopewell 
Academy and the Philadelphia Association — Bishop Berkeley and the College — 
Morgan Edwards's Materials toward a History of the Baptists in Rhode Island — 
Manuscript in the Cabinet of the Rhode Island Historical Society — Collected by the 
author in 1771 — In the possession of Manning, Backus, and Benedict — Published as 
part of volume six of the Collections of the Society — Appendix giving the history 
of the College — Manning's Narrative of the Charter — Extract from Dr. Cutting's 
article in New York Recorder — Prof. Kingsley's life of Dr. Stiles — Petition presented 
to the General Assembly in August, 1663 — Daniel Jenckes's name not included 
among the petitioners — Narrative continued — Dr. Stiles and the Charter — Charter 
found to be at variance with the original design, and action on it postponed — Appli- 
cation made to the Philadelphia Association " where the thing took its rise " — Com- 
mittee sent to Newport from Philadelphia — Statement of the Rev. Samuel Jones, 
chairman — Alterations made in Dr. Stiles's draft of the Charter by the Committee — 
Account of Judge Jenckes — His narrative of the Charter — Charter finally passed 
by the General Assembly at the February session, 1764 — Summary of the main 
points in the narratives of Manning and Jenckes — The original copy of the Charter 
presented to the General Assembly in August, 1763, and afterwards lost, found 
among the archives of Dr. Stiles's church, and presented by the Rev. A. H. Dumont to 
the Rev. Dr. Sprague of Albany — Now preserved among the archives of the College 
Library — Letters from Dr. Sprague on the subject to the writer — The Stiles Charter 
published in full in the appendix to the " Life, Times, and Correspondence of Man- 
ning " — Letter from Morgan Edwards respecting the Charter, and the opposition 
of Presbyterians or Congregationalists — Extract from the second volume of 
Backus's Church History, published in 1784 — Extract from his third volume, pub- 
lished in 1796 — Leading features of the Charter finally passed by the Legislature — 
Liberal in all its provisions — The College and Bishop Berkeley — Charter in full 
from the original edition published before 1765 — Provision exempting from taxation 
the President, Professors, and the College estate a subject of controversy and dispute 
in 1772, 1773, and 1774 — Controversy renewed in 1862 — Action of the Legislature, the 
Corporation consenting, in 1863 — Action of the Corporation — Happy settlement of 
the question — President and Professors exempted from taxation to the amount of 
ten thousand dollars — Controversy respecting exemption from taxation again 
renewed — Question for final decision submitted to the Supreme Court — Names of 
the Trustees and Fellows in 1770, and in 1896, in parallel columns. 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 511 

The history of the Charter of Brown University forms a most 
important part of the early history of the College ; we may be par- 
doned therefore for devoting to it a separate chapter of our work. 
Other writers have done the same in like circumstances. Professor 
Tyler, in his "History of Amherst College," published in 1873, 
devotes twenty-five pages of his elaborate work to a history of the 
charter, which was granted by the Legislature of Massachusetts after 
years of struggle and delay, by a vote of one hundred and fourteen 
to ninety-five. Opposition to "Orthodoxy" by the "Liberals," so 
called, appears to have been the main cause why the charter of 
Amherst was so long refused. As has already been stated, the history 
of our own charter is one of struggle against opposing influences, aris- 
ing in part from the sectarian feeling so prevalent throughout New 
England a century and a half ago, which appears to have been 
particularly bitter towards the denomination of Christians under whose 
auspices the College was founded. The Liee, Times, and Corres- 
pondence OP Manning abounds in illustrations of this feeling towards 
the Institution over which he presided, and also ecclesiastical oppres- 
sion, to resist which was one of the main causes that led to the forma- 
tion of the Warren Association. So also the pages throughout of 
Backus's Church History, Hezekiah Smith's Diary, Semple's History 
of Virginia, etc. 

In the light of an advancing civilization all this has now passed 
away ; if occasionally brought to remembrance, it is only, it is to be 
hoped, in the spirit of kindness, as an impressive admonition to the 
fuller exercise of that charity which " beareth all things." A faithful 
narrative must of necessity reflect somewhat upon the character of 
great and good men, whose names have passed into history, and whose 
memories are precious. On this point we may be allowed to quote the 
remarks of the lamented Professor Knowles, in his preface to the 
"Memoir of Roger Williams " : — "We must not," he says, "in order 
to promote or defend religion, attempt to conceal events which history 
has already recorded, and much less to palliate conduct which we cannot 
justify. Let us rather confess, with frankness, and humility, our own 



512 APPENDIX. 

faults, and those of our fathers ; learn wisdom from past errors ; and 
bring ourselves and others, as speedily as possible, to the adoption of 
those pure principles by which alone Christianity can be sustained and 
diffused. The Book of God records, among its salutary lessons, the 
mistakes and sins of good men." 

The origin of the College in connection with the Hopewell Acad- 
emy, and the Philadelphia Association, has been fully stated in the first 
part of our work. In these latter days this origin has sometimes been 
overlooked by a class of men who ascribe it rather to the liberal and 
far reaching views of scholars and statesmen in Rhode Island, who had 
long felt the need of an institution of learning, and, it is claimed, had 
been educated to such views by the teachings and silent influence of 
Bishop Berkeley, who, thirty years previous to the time of which we 
write, had resided for a brief period in Newport. Indeed, it has been 
gravely asserted that references to the University as a distinct Baptist 
institution are unwarranted by the facts, and that efforts to endow it 
as such are inconsistent with its "liberal and comprehensive charter." 
In giving the history of this charter, therefore, we shall allow the lead- 
ing writers and actors to tell their own story in their own way, leaving 
it for the candid reader to decide as to its truthfulness, and bearings on 
questions in controversy. Of necessity we must repeat some facts 
which have already been stated. 

In the cabinet of the Rhode Island Historical Society is a quarto 
manuscript volume, written in a print hand, by the Reverend Morgan 
Edwards, entitled, ' ' Materials toward a History of the Baptists in 
Rhode Island " ; forming one of a series of volumes which the author 
had prepared, or was intending to prepare, for each one of the thirteen 
colonies. The first of this series entitled, " Materials toward a History 
of the Baptists in Pennsylvania," was published in 1770. It is a small 
duodecimo volume of great value and rarity. A second volume relating 
to New Jersey was published in 1792. Still another relating to Dela- 
ware, has recently appeared in print under the auspices of the Ameri- 
can Baptist Publication Society. Mr. Edwards journeyed, says Cath- 
cart, "from New Hampshire to Georgia, gathering facts for a history 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. . 513 

of the Baptists, and these materials, printed or penned, are the most 
valuable Baptist records in our country. They show immense pains- 
taking, the}^ are remarkably accurate, and they treat of points of great 
value." 

The MATERIALS for this volume were collected in the Fall of 
1771, while Edwards was in Providence, attending the Commence- 
ment of the College. He interviewed, says the late Moses Brown who 
accompanied him in his visits, "all the elderly people he could find 
here."^ For some reason, owing perhaps to the disturbed state of the 
country at the time, and the Revolutionary War which followed, they 
were never published.^ Afterwards they were used by Backus, who 
obtained them from President Manning for the preparation of his his- 
tory. Manning obtained them from Edwards. This we learn from a 
letter from Edwards to Manning, in which, under date of August 18, 
1788, he writes : — "Some years ago I sent you a manuscript; whether 
you received it or not I cannot say. It was a collection of some his- 
torical facts relative to the Baptists. If you have the book, please 
return it to me as soon as conveniency offers." The book was never 
returned. Backus used it in his Church History, the first volume of 
which appeared in 1777, the second in 1784, and the third in 1796. 
Manning died in 1791, Edwards in 1795, and Backus in 1806. After 
the death of Backus this volume, with other papers, came into the 
hands of David Benedict, known in later years as the " Baptist Histo- 
rian." Many years ago Dr. Benedict wisely placed it in the archives 
of the Rhode Island Historical Society for preservation and future use. 

An Appendix to this remarkable volume gives the history of the 
College from the beginning down to the year 1771. This Staples has 
incorporated in his "Annals of Providence." A part is reproduced in 
"Life, Times, and Correspondence of Manning," published in 1864. 
The entire manuscript, edited by the late Rev. Edwin M. Stone, was pub- 



1 See letter from Moses Brown to Dr. Francis Waylancl, publislied in " Documentary History 
of Brown University," pp. 207-210. 

2 In fact the work, which the author designates as his third volume, was never completed, the 
manuscript ending abruptly with an account of the church in Cranston. Only the churches of 
Providence, Newport, Warren, Greenwich, and Cranston are included in the work. 

65 



514 APPENDIX. 

lished in 1867, forming a part of volume six of the Collections of the 
Rhode Island Historical Society. Edwards thus begins his history : — 

Young indeed the Institution is, and therefore short would its history be, had it 
received its existence, locality, endowment, and permanency like other institutions of 
the same nature; but contrarywise, some iDeculiar circumstances attend each, which 
infer the interposition of Providence, and bespeak it to be a thing of God and not of 
man only. The first mover for it, in 1762, was laughed at as the projector of a thing 
impracticable. Nay, many of the Baptists themselves discouraged the design, prophe- 
sying evil to the churches in case it should take place, from an unhappy prejudice 
against learning, and threatened, not only non-concurrence, but opposition. Neverthe- 
less, a young Jerseyman, who is now at the head of the Institution, went to the Rhode 
Island Government and made the design known. The reason of his attempt in this 
Province was, as has been observed, that the Legislature is here chiefly in the hands of 
Baptists, and therefore it was the likeliest place to have a Baptist college established 
by law. The remainder of what I intend to say on this head, shall be in the words of 
President Manning, to which I shall add the history of the first Charter by Daniel 
Jenckes, Esq., who both, for obvious reasons, think it necessary to have them pub- 
lished. 

President Manning's Narrative is as follows : — 

Manning's Narrative. 

In the month of July, 1763, we^ arrived in Newport, and made a motion to several 
gentlemen of the Baptist denomination, whereof Colonel Gardner, the Deputy Gov- 
ernor, was one, relative to a seminary of polite literature, subject to the government of 
the Baptists. The motion was properly attended to, which brought together about 
fifteen gentlemen of the same denomination at the Deputy's house, who requested that 
I would draw a sketch of the design against the day following. That day came, and 
the said gentlemen, with other Baptists, met in the same place, when a rough draft was 
produced and read, the tenor of which was, that the institution was to be a Baptist one, 
but that as many of other denominations should be taken in as was consistent with the 
said design." Accordingly, the Hon. Josias Lyndon, and Col. Job Bennet, were 



1 Mr. Manning, it will be remembered, was accompanied on his journey to Halifax by the Rev. 
John Sutton, a member with him of the Scotch Plains Church. 

2 "Never," says the late Rev. Dr. Cutting, in an article in the New York Recorder, published 
Sept. 20, 1854, which we here quote, " were men more decided in religious faith than the settlers of 
Rhode Island. It was their positive and zealous traits which from the four quarters of the earth 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 515 

appointed to draw a Charter, to be laid before the next General Assembly, with a peti- 
tion that they should pass it into a law. But the said gentlemen, pleading unskilful- 
ness touching an affair of the kind, requested that their trusty friend. Rev. Ezra, now 
Dr. Stiles, might be solicited to assist them. This was opposed by me, as unwilling to 
give the Doctor any trouble about an affair of other people; but they urged that his 
love of learning and Catholicism would induce him readily to give his assistance. 
Accordingly, their proposal was consented to, and his assistance obtained ; or, rather, 
the drafting of the Charter was left entirely to him, after being told that the Baptists 
were to have the lead in the institution, and the government thereof, forever; and that 
no more of other denominations were to be admitted than would be consistent with 
that.* The Charter was drawn, and a time and place were appointed for the parties 



sent them thither for shelter, and there they contended with each other like earnest men. And yet 
they practised mutual tolerance, because the rights of conscience were inviolable, and charity was 
a duty and a grace. 

" We suppose this to be the true spirit of Brown University in its relations to religion. Provid- 
ing in its Charter for a majority of Baptists in its Corporation, it embraces in certain proportions, 
likewise. Episcopalians, Quakers, and Congregationalists ; not because the differences between 
Baptists, Episcopalians, Quakers, and Congregationalists are not of importance, but because the 
things which they hold in common, and the spirit of their common faith, furnish ample ground for 
cooperation in the cause of ' polite literature.' It is to the honor of the Baptists that, when, by the 
intolerance of other colonies, they were driven to Rhode Island to establish their College, they 
proceeded at once, and of their own motion, to call in the counsels of gentlemen of other denomi- 
nations, and to admit them to a share in the government, though their catholicity had well-nigh 
cost them the total loss of all which they had undertaken. They did this, not to merge their faith 
in a common indifferentism, but to illustrate a comprehensive charity. They had a ' main design,' 
and a subordinate and collateral one. The ' main design ' was a Baptist college, especially for the 
education of their ministry ; subordinate to this, and consistent with it, was the design of an insti- 
tution which, enlisting a common interest, should confer common blessings upon other denomina- 
tions and upon the State. Such a scheme was at the time utterly without a parallel, and must have 
been regarded in the other colleges with something of the amazement with which the inhabitants 
of Massachusetts Bay had looked, at an earlier day, upon the broad religious liberty of Rhode 
Island and the Providence Plantations. In this original spirit, as we believe, should the University 
be administered forever; men of diverse faiths working together, not because of indifferentism, 
but of charity, — not as the less Baptists, Episcopalians, Quakers, and Congregationalists, but as 
men of common interests in a work which honors and blesses all. It would be a shame if such an 
institution should not be, as always it has been, in the highest and best sense catholic. In our 
view, if its catholicity degenerated to indifferentism, it would cease to represent the spirit and the 
designs of its founders." 

1 Professor Kingsley, in his Life of Dr. Stiles, states that " a committee of Baptists and Congre- 
gationalists was appointed to draft a charter of a college ; and of this body, Mr. Stiles and Mr. 
"William Ellery were designated to prepare such an instrument for their consideration." " It is 
highly probable," he further adds, " from internal evidence, that the charter was drawn princi- 
pally by Mr. Stiles; Mr. Ellery having little concern in preparing it, except to see to the correct- 
ness of the legal language. "Whoever drew it, he had obviously before him the charter of Yale 
College, and was familiar with the questions which had arisen with respect to them. The privi- 
leges secured to the University by this Charter are very ample ; and the language of the several 
provisions is remarkably full, precise, and explicit. It is, undoubtedly, in many respects, one of the 
best college charters in New England." 

From Professor Kingsley's statements, it would appear that Baptists and Congregationalists 



516 APPENDIX. 

■concerned to meet and hear it read. But the vessel in which I was to sail for Halifax 
going off that day prevented my being present with them long enough to see whether 
the original design was secured : and as the Corporation was made to consist of two 
branches, Trustees and Fellows, and these branches were to sit and act by distinct and 
separate powers, it was not easy to determine, by a transient hearing, what those powers 
might be. The Trustees were presumed to be the principal branch of authority; and 
as nineteen out of thirty-live were to be Baptists, the Baptists were satisfied, without 
sufficient examination into the authority vested in the Fellowship, which afterwards 
appeared to be the soul of the Institution, while the Trusteeship was only the body. 
Placing, therefore, an entire confidence in Dr. Stiles, they agreed to join in a petition to 
the Assembly to have the Charter confirmed by authority. 

The following is the petition to which Manning in his narrative 
refers, copied from the original document, now on file in the archives 
of the College Library. The signatures to the document are gen- 
uine : — 

To THE Honorable the General Assembly of His Majesty's Colony of Rhode 
Island, to be held at Newport, on the first Monday of August, A. D. 1763, 
BY Adjournment. 

The Petition op Divers of the Inhabitants of said Colony. 
Whereas, Institutions for liberal education are highly beneficial to society by 
forming the rising generation to virtue, knowledge, and useful literature, and thus 
preserving in a community a succession of men qualified for discharging the offices of 
life with usefulness and reputation, and have always merited and received the public 
attention and encouragement of every wise, polite, and well regulated state: And 
whereas a public school or seminary erected for this purpose within this Colony, to 
which the youth may freely resort for education in the vernacular and learned lan- 
guages, and instruction in the liberal arts and sciences, would be for the general 
advantage and honor of this government: And whereas, there is a confessed absence 
of polite and useful learning in this Colony, your petitioners, affected with a deep 



were alike interested in the movement, and that a joint committee representing the two denomina- 
tions was appointed to draft the Charter. From the statements, however, of Backus, Edwards, 
Manning, and Jenckes, it is evident that Baptists alone were the originators of the undertaking; 
that Baptists alone met at the Deputy Governor's house in Newport, in July, 1763; that, of their 
number, Lyndon and Bennet were appointed to draft a Charter in accordance with a plan 
sketched by Manning; that these gentlemen, "pleading unskilfulness," requested that Dr. Stiles 
"might be solicited to assist them;" and that this was at first opposed by Manning, who was 
" unwillmg to give the Doctor trouble about an affair of other people." 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTEE. 517 

sense thereof, and prompted alone by motives drawn from the public good, and 
desirous, as far as in them lies, to subserve the polite interests of this. His Majesty's 
Colony, and solicitous for cultivating the morals and informing the knowledge of th^ 
rising generation, upon which foundation the harmony, good order, and reputation of 
society depend — Humbly show, that for the good intents and purposes above men- 
tioned they have concerted and planned the Charter herewith presented, and the same, 
having carefully considered and revised, do propose and submit it to the consideration 
of this honorable Assembly, requesting your Honors that, out of your great regard 
for useful literature, and the good morals of the youth of this Colony, and others 
that may resort to this same for the advantages of education, you would give your 
assent to and grant and confirm the aforesaid Charter, with all its powers, privileges, 
and immunities, as amply and fully as in said Charter is specified and expressed: 
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. 

Nicholas Tillinghast, Charles Wickham, Silas Cooke, Peter Mumford, Samuel 
Fowler, Joseph Clarke, Thomas Rodman, Thomas Wickham, Jr., Benj. Mason, Henry 
Ward, John Bowers, Oliver Arnold, Wm. Burroughs, Stanley Wyatt, Wm. Taggart, 
Samuel Ward, Job Bennet, Joshua Clarke, Gardner Thurston, Josias Lyndon, John 
Wheaton, Wm. Ellery, Jr., Jona. Willson, Gideon Cornell, Martin Howard, Israel 
Brayton, Paul Coffin, Charles Bardin, John Treby, Benj. Sherburne, Sylvester Child, 
Caleb Gardner, Jona. Nichols, Shubael Barr, Nicholas Hart, Jun., Jona. Easton, Jona. 
Otis, J. Gardner, Jos. Sanford, John Tillinghast, Nicholas Easton, Joshua Saunders, 
James Tanner, John Tanner, Robert Stevens, Samuel Greene, Joseph G. Wanton, 
David Moore, Samuel Lyndon, Elnathan Hammond, Nathan Rice, James Gardner, 
Clarke Brown, Benj. Hall, Ezek Burroughs, Joseph Rodman, Jona. Rogers, Cromel 
Child, Robert Potter, Wm. Vernon, Wm. Rogers. 

The name of Daniel Jenckes, it will be observed, does not appear 
among the foregoing signatures. He was requested while in the Coun- 
cil Chamber, to sign the petition, as he himself states, by Capt. William 
Rogers. Of course he refused to sign, after reading the Charter, and 
seeing that it did not answer the original design of the movers. 

Manning's Narrative Continued. 

The petition was preferred, and cheerfully received, and the Charter read; after 
which a vote was called for, and urged by some to pass into a law. But this was 
opposed by others, particularly Daniel Jenckes, Esq., member for Providence, who 
contended that the Assembly required more time to examine whether it was agreeable 
to the design of the first movers for it, and therefore prayed the House to have the 



518 APPENDIX. 

perusal of it, while they adjourned for dinner. This was granted, with some opposi- 
tion. Then he asked the Governor, who was a Baptist, whom they intended to invest 
with the governing power in said Institution? The Governor answered, "The Bap- 
tists, by all means." Then Mr. Jenckes showed him that the Charter was so artfully 
constructed as to throw the power into the Fellows' hands, whereof eight out of twelve 
were Presbyterians, usually called Congregationalists, and that the other four might 
be of the same denomination, for aught that appeared in the Charter to the contrary. 
Convinced of this. Governor Lyndon immediately had an interview with Dr. Stiles, the 
Presbyterian minister of Newport, and demanded why he had perverted the design of 
the Charter. The answer was, " I gave you timely warning to take care of yourselves, 
for that we had done so with regard to oar society;"^ and finally observed, that "he 
was not the rogue." "When the Assembly was convened again, the said Jenckes moved 
that the affair might be put off to the next session ; adding, that the motion for a Col- 
lege originated with the Baptists, and was intended for their use, but that the Charter 
in question was not at all calculated to answer their purpose ; and since the committee 



1 In Professor Kingsley's Life of Dr. Stiles, to which we have already alluded, we find it stated 
that the project of a College in Rhode Island had been the subject of serious deliberation a con- 
siderable time before the Charter was actually granted by the Legislature, and in this matter Dr. 
Stiles had taken a prominent part, collecting statistics, etc. His plan was, to unite several denom- 
inations of Christians in the enterprise, both in America and in Great Britain, and thus, by proper 
care, make the dissenting interest eventually exceed the Episcopal establishment. The whole 
number of churches of the Congregational, Presbyterian, and Baptist denominations, not only in 
the Colonies, but in Great Britain and Ireland, he ascertained to be three thousand six hundred 
and thirty-eight. "He supposed that all these churches might be induced to contribute to the 
establishment and support of an institution which would so greatly subserve their interests." 
The arrival at Newport of Mr. Manning, and the proposition made by him for the establishment 
of a Baptist college, interfered, of course, with his cherished views and plans. It is therefore not 
surprising that he should have been unwilling to see them defeated, without a struggle on his part 
to carry them into effect. We can understand how an attempt should have been made, either by 
Dr. Stiles or his associates, in drafting an act of incorporation for a College in Rhode Island, to 
pay special " regard " to the interests of their own " society." That there was disappointment on 
both sides, and at the time mutual recriminations, is evident from the narrative. Under similar 
circumstances there doubtless would be again, human nature being very much the same now as in. 
the days of our ancestors. It is due to Dr. Stiles, to state that he afterwards cherished friendly 
feelings towards the Institution. Having been elected to a Fellowship in the College, and solicited 
by repeated deputations from the Corporation to accept the trust, he thus writes to the Chancellor 
and Trustees : " I was too sincere a friend to literature not to have taken a part in the Institution 
at first, upon my nomination in the Charter, had I not been prevented by reasons which a subse- 
quent immediate election could not remove." One of the reasons assigned in this letter, as stated 
by Dr. Manning, in a letter to the Rev. John Ryland, dated May 20, 1773, was " the ofEence he should 
give his brethren should he accept it." Whatever the reasons were, they still influenced him to 
decline the office to which he was invited, with suitable acknowledgments of the politeness and 
respect with which he was treated on this occasion. His letter concludes with the catholic and 
pious wish that "the Father of lights, from whom comes down every good and perfect gift, may 
excite the public munificence, and raise up benefactors, through whose liberalities this Institution, 
shall be completed with an ample endowment." (Holmes's Life of President Stiles, page 117.) 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 519 

intrusted with this matter by the Baptists i>rofessed they had been misled, not to say 
imposed upon, it was necessary that the Baptists in other parts of the Colony should 
be consulted previous to its passage into a law, especially as few, if any of them except 
himself, had seen it ; and he prayed that he might have a copy for the said purpose, 
which he promised to return. All which was granted. "When the Charter came to be 
narroAvly inspected, it was found to be by no means answerable to the design of the agi- 
tators and the instructions given the committee. Consequently, application was made 
to the Philadelphia Association, where the thing took its rise, to have their mind on 
the subject, who immediately sent two gentlemen* hither to join with the Baptists of 
this Colony in making such alterations and amendments as were to them specified 
before their departure. When they arrived, Dr. Eyres^ of Newport was added to the 
committee, and they happily drafted the present Charter, and lodged it, with a new 
petition, in proper hands. The most material alterations were, appointing the same 
number of Baptists in the Fellowship that had been appointed of the Presbyterians, by 
Dr. Stiles; settling the presidency in the Baptist society ; adding three Baptists to the 
Trustees, and putting more Episcopalians than Presbyterians in the Corporation." 

Among the alterations not here enumerated by Manning, were, 
electing the President by the Corporation instead of exclusively by 
the Trustees ; providing for convoking an assembly of the Corporation 
on twenty days notice instead of six ; making five a quorum of the 
Board of Fellows instead of eight ; and striking out the clause making 
the places of Trustees or Fellows who should remove out of the State, 
vacant. By confining membership in the Corporation to persons resid- 



1 On the margin of the manuscript, in the handwriting of the Rev. Dr. Jones, who was Morgan 
Edwards's intimate friend, is the following, namely, " Why their names are not mentioned, I can- 
not say. However, there was no one sent but myself, although Mr. Robert Strettle Jones was so 
kind as to bear me company to Rhode Island on the occasion. — Samuel Jones." Mr. Jones, it 
will be remembered, in connection with Mr. Edwards, had been intrusted by the Association with 
the business in general of founding a Baptist college or university. He had, at this date, but 
recently been ordained in Philadelphia. He was a young man of liberal education, and a ready 
and skilful writer ; hence his special fitness for the duty assigned |him in this emergency. The 
following extract from notes to a century sermon delivered by him before the Philadelphia Baptist 
Association, Oct. G, 1807, nearly fifty years afterwards, shows the manner in which he performed 
his mission: "In the fall of 1763, the writer of these sheets, on request, repaired to Newport in 
Rhode Island, and uew-modeUed a rough chaft they had of a Charter of incorporation for a Col- 
lege, which soon after obtained legislative sanction." 

2 Thomas Eyres, a physician, the first secretary of the Corporation, and a Fellow of the College 
from 1764 until his death in 1788. He was graduated at Yale College, tin the Class of 1754. His 
father, Elder Nicholas Eyres, was pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Newport from 1731 until 
his death, Feb. 13, 1759. 



520 APPENDIX. 

ing within tlie limits of the Colony, the original Charter excluded the 
originators and founders of the College. Hence, in the list of names 
proposed by Dr. Stiles to be incorporated, the following, which we find 
in the printed Charter, as suggested by the committee, are omitted, 
namely. Rev. Morgan Edwards, Rev. Samuel Jones, Rev. James Man- 
ning, Rev. Isaac Eaton, Rev. John Gano, Rev. Samuel Stillman, Rev. 
Jeremiah Condy, and Robert Strettle Jones, Esq. The names of 
Hezekiah Smith, Isaac Backus, William Williams, John Davis, Russell 
Mason, Nathan Spear, and others from out of the State, who rendered 
such signal service in the early history of .the College, would also 
have been excluded from membership in the Corporation by the Char- 
ter as originally drafted. 

The Hon. Judge Jenckes, to whom Manning refers in his Narrative, 
was, as we have already stated, a wealthy merchant of Providence, and 
a patron both of the College and the church, having continued, says 
the record, a member of the latter forty-eight years "without censure." 
Benedict in the first volume of his " History of the Baptist Denomina- 
tion," has devoted several pages to an account of the Jenckes family. 
Joseph, his great ancestor, migrated from Buckinghamshire in England, 
and became the founder of Pawtucket. Each of his four sons was 
prominent in the history of the Colony. Joseph, the eldest, of "happy 
memory," was "an active and ornamental member of the Baptist 
church," for several years Governor of the Colony, and at one time a 
Representative at the Court of St. James. The second son, Nathaniel, 
became the military leader of all the forces in the Colony. The fourth 
son, William, became a Chief Justice, and died at the advanced age of 
ninety-one. The third son, Ebenezer, father of Judge Jenckes, was 
in 1719 ordained as pastor of the Church ; which office he held until 
his death in 1726. "He was," says Benedict, "a man of parts and real 
piety. He refused every public office but the Surveyorship of Provi- 
dence." Judge Jenckes was for many years a member of the General 
Assembly, and his name frequently appears in connection with the 
most important committees. In 1723 he is designated in the Colonial 
Records, as Daniel Jenckes, Jr., "freeman of this Colonv from Provi- 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 521 

dence." In 1733 his name appears as " Lieut. Daniel Jenckes, Deputy 
from Smithfield." ( Smithfield was until 1730 a part of Providence.) 
In 1757 he is designated as " Chief Justice of the Inferior Court of 
Common Pleas, and General Sessions of the Peace, within and for the 
County of Providence." This position he held until his decease. 
Evidently he was a leading and influential citizen of Providence, 
respected and esteemed in the community in which he lived. The follow- 
ing appears in the columns of the Providence G-azette for Aug. 81, 1771 : — 

In Town Meeting. Daniel Jenckes, Esq., who had been a member of the General 
Assembly, with little intermission, for forty years past, and a Representative of this 
Town near thirty years, desired leave, on account of his advanced age, to withdraw 
himself from that office. He was unanimously excused, and the meeting unanimously 
ordered the Moderator to return their hearty thanks to Mr. Jenckes, for the many and 
important services he had rendered his country in general, and this Town in particu- 
lar, during the long time he had been continued their Representative; which was then 
done in open Town Meeting. 

Judge Jenckes was one of the original Trustees of the College. He 
attended with great regularity all the meetings of the Corporation, 
serving on important committees, and contributing liberally for the 
support of the infant Seminary. He gave, says Benedict, one thousand 
dollars toward the erection of the college building, and another thou- 
sand for the meeting-house. He died July 7, 1774, in the sevent5^-third 
year of his age. His daughter Rhoda was the wife of Nicholas Brown, 
Manning's intimate friend and associate, and the mother of Hon. 
Nicholas Brown, from whom the University derives its name. She was 
also the mother of Mrs. Hope Ives, after whom "Hope College" was 
named. From her sprang the Ives, Gammell, and Goddard families, so 
prominent in the more recent history of the city, and the University. 
Jenckes's history of the Charter, which "for obvious reasons" Edwards 
states, he desired to have published, reads as follows : — 

Jenckes's History of the Charter. 

While I attended the business of the Assembly, held August, 1763, Capt. William 
Rogers came to the Council Chamber and presented me with a paper, with a design I 
66 



522 APPENDIX. 

should sign it ; adding, that, as it was a petition for a Baptist college, he knew I would 
not refuse. Business not permitting me to attend to it immediately, I requested he 
would leave with me the petition and Charter. Meanwhile, the sergeant made procla- 
mation requiring the members to take their seats. In my seat I began to read the 
papers, but had not done before the petition and Charter were called for, which I gave 
to the sergeant, and he to the speaker at the board. The petition being read, a motion 
was made to receive it, and grant the Charter. After some time I stood up to oppose , 
proceeding immediately on the petition, giving my reason in words to this effect: " I 
understood that the College in question was sought for by the Baptists ; and that it was 
to be under their government and direction, with the admission only of a few of other 
religious denominations to share with them therein, that they might appear as catholic 
as could be, consistent with their main design ; but, on the contrary, I perceived by 
glancing over the Charter, while I sat in my place just now, that the main power and 
direction is vested in twelve Fellows, and that eight out of the twelve are to be Presby- 
terians ; and that the others may or may not be of the same denomination ; but of 
necessity, none of them are to be Baptists. If so, there is treachery somewhere, and a 
design of grossly imposing on the honest people who first moved for the Institution. I 
desire, therefore, that the matter may lie by till the afternoon." This was granted. In 
the afternoon the matter was resumed, with a seeming resolution in Some to push it 
through at all events ; but I had influence enough to stop proceedings then also. That 
evening and the next morning, I made it my business to see Governor Lyndon and 
Col. Bennet, and to inform them of the construction of the Charter. They could not 
believe me, for the confidence they had in Dr. Stiles's honor and integrity, until seeing 
convinced them ; what reflections followed may be better concealed than published. 
However, we all agreed to postpone passing the Charter into a law, and did eifect our 
purpose for that session, notwithstanding the attempts of Mr. Ellery and others of the 
Presbyterians to the contrary. Before the breaking up of the Assembly, the House, at 
my request, directed the speaker to deliver the Charter to me, after I had made a 
promise it should be forthcoming at the next meeting of the Assembly. 

I took the Charter to Providence, and showed it to many who came to my house ; 
others borrowed it to peruse at home. Meanwhile, the messengers from the Philadel- 
phia Association arrived in Newport, which occasioned the committee of Newport to 
send to me for the Charter. I asked for it of Dr. Ephraim Bowen, who had borrowed it 
last. The Doctor said he lent it to Samuel Nightingale, Esq. Search was made for it 
there, but it could not be found; neither do I know to this day what became of it. 
"When the next General Assembly met (last Wednesday in October, 1763,) the second 
Charter was presented ; which was much faulted, and opposed by the gentry who con- 
cerned themselves so warmly about the other. And one in particular demanded that 
the first Charter, which had been intrusted to me, might be j^roduced. Then I related. 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 523 

as above, that it was lost, and the manner how it was lost; but the party, instead of 
believing this, rudely suggested that I had secreted the Charter, and in the face of the 
court charged me with a breach of trust ; which brought on very disagreeable alterca- 
tions and bickerings, until, at last, I was necessitated to say, that "if there had been 
any foul doings, it was amongst them of their own denomination at Providence." 
Their clamors continued; and we gave way to them that session for peace sake. 
Meanwhile, Dr. Bowen, who is a man of strict honor and integrity, used all means to 
recover the former Charter, posting an advertisement in the most public places in 
town, and making diligent inquiry ; but to no purpose. At the next Assembly, which 
met in February, 1764, the new Charter was again brought on the carpet; and the same 
clamor against it, and unjust reproaches against me, were repeated. It was said that 
the new Charter was not like the old, and was constructed to deprive the Presbyterians 
of the benefit of the Institution. To which it was replied, " that it was agreeable to the 
designs of the first undertakers, and if calculated to deprive the Presbyterians of the 
power they wanted, it was no more than what they themselves had attempted to do to 
the Baptists." After much and warm debate, the question was put and carried in favor 
of the new Charter, by a great majority.^ 

This Charter Edwards designates as "a brand plucked from the 
burning." From the foregoing Narrative and History it appears : — 

1. That Manning made a motion to several Baptist gentlemen of New- 
port, including Deputy Governor Gardner, relative to a Seminary of 
Polite Literature, subject to the government of the Baptists ; and that 
this motion properly attended to brought together about fifteen gentle- 
men of this denomination at the Deputy's house, who requested Man- 
ning to draw up or prepare a sketch of the design for the next day. 

2. That the next day the said gentlemen, with other Baptists met in 
the same place, when a rough draft or plan was produced and read, the 
tenor of which was, that the Institution was to be a Baptist College, 
but that other denominations were to be included in its government, 
as many as might be consistent with the general design. 3. That the 
Hon. Josias Lyndon and Col. Job Bennet were appointed to draw up a 
Charter in accordance with the said plan, to be laid before the next 



1 According to the original copy of the Charter in the office of the Secretary of State, it passed 
the House on the 2d of March, 1764, " nemine contradicente." The day following, March 3d, it was 
read in the Senate, and the action of the House concurred with, " nemine contradicente." Signed 
by Josias Lyndon, Clerk of the House, Henry Ward, Secretary of the Senate. 



524 • APPENDIX. 

General Assembly, witli a petition that it might be made a law. 4. 
That the said Lyndon and Bennet pleading unskilfulness, solicited and 
obtained the assistance of the Rev. Dr. Ezra Stiles, afterwards the dis- 
tinguished President of Yale College. 5. That the drafting of the 
Charter was left entirely to Dr. Stiles, and that he in turn was assisted 
by the Hon. William Ellery, afterwards known as one of the Signers 
of the Declaration of Independence. 6. That the Charter was accord- 
ingly drawn, and a time and place were appointed for the parties con- 
cerned to meet and hear it read. 7. That Manning, being obliged to 
leave on that day for Halifax, the vessel being ready to sail, was unable 
to be with the committee long enough to see whether the original design 
was secured, and that the Baptists, being satisfied without sufficient 
examination into the authority vested in the Fellowship, and reposing 
entire confidence in Dr. Stiles, agreed to join in a petition to the Gen- 
eral Assembly to have the Charter confirmed by authority. 8. That 
the petition and Charter were accordingly presented to the General 
Assembly in August, 1763, but that action thereon was postponed 
until the next session through the influence of the Hon. Judge Jenckes, 
notwithstanding the attempts of Mr. Ellery and others of the Presby- 
terians (Congregationalists) to the contrary. 9. That the Charter 
was found on inspection to be so drawn as to vest the main power and 
direction of the Institution in a Board of twelve Fellows, eight of 
whom were to be Presbyterians (Congregationalists) and the other 
four of the same denomination, for aught that appeared to the con- 
trary ; and that in general it did not answer to the original design. 
10. That in this emergency, " application was made to the Philadelphia 
Association, where the thing took its rise, to have their mind on the 
subject." 11. That they immediately sent to Newport the Rev. Samuel 
Jones, who was accompanied by Robert Strettle Jones, and that when 
they arrived, Doct. Thomas Eyres, of Newport, was added to the com- 
mittee. 12. That, meanwhile, the copy of the Charter, the one pre- 
sented to the General Assembly in August, which had been entrusted 
by that body to Judge Jenckes, was lost. 13. That the committee 
found at Newport the original draft, which they happily remodelled ; 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 525 

and that the most material alterations were, appointing the same num- 
ber of Baptists in the Fellowship that had been appointed by Dr. Stiles 
of the Presbyterians ; settling the Presidency in the Baptist Society ; 
adding three Baptists to the Trustees ; putting more Episcopalians than 
Presbyterians in the Corporation ; and extending the membership of the 
Corporation to persons residing out of the Colony or State. 14. That 
the Charter thus amended was finally enacted, after protracted opposi- 
tion on the part of the Presbyterians, at a session of the General Assem- 
bly held in East Greenwich, on the last Monday in February, 1764.^ 

It is not a little remarkable that the copy of the Charter presented 
to the General Assembly in August, 1763, which was entrusted by that 
Body to Judge Jenckes, and was afterwards lost, should have come to 
light in the year of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of 
the College. It is now handsomely bound, and lodged among the 
archives of the Library. For generations it slept among the old papers 
of the church over which Dr. Stiles was pastor ; then it found its way 
into the hands of the late Rev. Dr. William B. Sprague, the great col- 
lector of autographs, who generously presented it to the University, 
upon being made acquainted with its historical value.- The place of its 



1 The following memorandum, found among the papers of Dr. Stiles, and quoted by Dr. Sears in 
an appendix to his centennial discourse, gives Dr. Stiles's version of the Charter : — "A Charter 
draughted by a committee of Baptists and Presbyterians, for a College in Rhode Island, was pre- 
ferred to the Assembly, August, 1763, read and continued. After this the Baptists deserted the 
Presbyterians, and prepared the same Charter, with the alteration of the proportions of the 
denominations in the Corporation. This passed the Assembly at their session at Greenwich, by 
adjournment last Thursday, February, 1764." ( That is, at the February session.) 

2 As this document confirms and establishes beyond question the accuracy of Manning, Edwards, 
and Jenckes in their statements, the reader may be interested to know further particulars of its 
recovery. In 1843 the late Judge Staples published his " Annals of the Town of Providence." In 
this volume appeared for the first time in print the narratives respecting the early history of the 
College. They attracted much attention. Previous to this time the Rev. A. H. Dumont, of New- 
port, had informed Judge Staples that the missing Charter was among the archives of the church 
over which Dr. Stiles had been pastor. Information of this fact was communicated to the writer, 
while preparing his life of Manning, who at once corresponded with the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Mal- 
com. an intimate friend of Mr. Dumont. From him he learned that it was in the possession of the 
Rev. Dr. Sprague. The following are the replies to letters addressed to Dr. Sprague on the subject ; 



Albany, 23d January, 1864. 
Reuben A. Guild, Esq. — My Dear Sir : I herewith send you the document you ask for, which 
I certainly reckon among the most curious of my American autographs. I frankly confess that it 
would cost me no small sacrifice to part with it ; and yet if you and President Sears should think 



526 APPENDIX. 

deposit clears Judge Jenckes of the charge brought against him by one 
of the " gentry." Into whose hands it fell after it was lent to Mr. 
Jabez Bowen, and by him to a third person, must now, of course, be a 
matter of conjecture. It is certain that in some way it came into the 
possession of Dr. Stiles, for upon the back of it, in his own clear and 
distinct handwriting, are the following remarks : 

For the Rev. Dr. Charles Chauncy, Boston : — This Charter was presented to the 
Assembly August, 1763; re-copied, with some alterations by the Baptists, in October; 
and passed the Assembly February, 1764. Principal alterations were : 

1. By omitting " To all people, etc.. Greeting," in the initiatory address, the subse- 
quent insertion in the body of the Charter, " Now, therefore, know ye," is an impropri- 
ety in clerkship. 

2. The Baptists have shown a greater affection for all other denominations than for 
the Congregationalists. 

3. Instead of eight or a majority of Congregationalists in the branch of the Fellow- 
ship, according to the original agreement, they have inserted eight Baptists ; thus 
assuming a majority of about two-thirds in both branches, hereby absorbing the whole 
power and government of the College, and thus, by the immutability of the numbers, 
establishing it a party College more explicitly and eifectually than any college upon the 
continent. This is the most material alteration. 

4. Most of what is contained between the marginal crotchets in page six is omitted ; 
and the whole paragrajih for securing the freedom of education with respect to religion, 
so mutilated as effectually to enable and empower the Baptists to practice the arts of 
insinuation and proselyting upon the youth by private instruction, without the request 
of the parents. 

What "original agreement" was violated by the adoption of the 
present Charter ; in what respects Rhode Island College was established 



it specially important that it should toe deposited in the archives of the College, and that it should 
toe the original rather than a copy, I might possibly muster magnanimity enough to yield it, though 
in that case I should wish it to toe considered as an offering from the excellent friend who gave it to 
me rather than from myself. 

Ever, my dear sir, faithfully yours, W. B. Sprague. 



Albany, 1 February, 1864. 
Reuben A. Guild, Esq. — My Bear Sir : After what you say of the value of the document I 
sent you, to j'our University, I cheerfully make it over to you, to be transmitted, through the 
archives, to posterity. Your intimation in respect to giving me something in exchange for it, I 
duly appreciate, tout greatly prefer that it should toe considered an out and out gift. 

Very faithfully yours, W. B. Sprague. 



HISTOKY OF THE CHAKTER. 527 

" a party College more explicitly and effectually than any college upon 
the continent," (referring, of course, to the six colleges in existence in 
the year 1764) ; and how the paragraph pertaining to religious freedom 
and sectarian differences of opinion ' ' enables and empowers the Bap- 
tists to practice the arts of insinuation and proselyting," we leave to 
the judgment and candor of our readers to decide. 

The appendix to " Life, Times, and Correspondence of James Man- 
ning ' ' contains this Stiles Charter, if we may so designate it, copied in 
full from the original document, and in a parallel column, the changes 
and additions made by the Philadelphia committee. The "rough 
di-aft" which the committee remodelled "in the fall of 1763," was the 
original draft made by Dr. Stiles, in his own handwriting, which Man- 
ning was unable to hear read, his vessel being about to sail. This is also 
preserved on file among the College papers. It does not differ materi- 
ally from the one presented to the Legislature in August, 1763, the hand- 
writing in both being the same. The second copy is on larger and better 
paper, and is written with more care, with reference to its being a legis- 
lative document. 

The following letter, which forms a part of the Appendix to " Mate- 
rials towards a History of the Baptists in Rhode Island," and appears to 
have been addressed by Edwards to Manning soon after the removal of 
the College to Providence, may with propriety be introduced here, 
although portions of it belong to a later period. His allusions to the 
opposition of the Presbyterians (Congregationalists) to the College, 
correspond to statements made by Manning, Brown, Backus, and 
others, as recorded throughout in the pages of the present work, 
and also in the "Life, Diary, Letters, and Addresses of Hezekiah 
Smith." Manning was evidently expecting the friendship and help of 
members of the Standing Order in the adjoining Colonies, had not the 
Baptists complained in newspapers of the oppression of their brethren, 
and threatened to carry their complaints to the Throne in case they 
should be longer continued. Part of the letter reads as follows : — 

" I should not have ventured to oppose my opinions to yours, had not facts, recent 
facts, decided the matter in my favor; and shown that the goodness and candor of the 



528 APPENDIX. 

President have imposed on his judgment. Remember you not the first Charter? 
"Whilst the Baptist college was yet in embryo they very disingenuously opposed it, as 
such, and continued to make it their own, since which disappointment, Dr. Stiles would 
have nothing to do with it, though courted again and again to accept even a Fellowship 
therein. And when the present Charter was presented to the Assembly at South 
Kingstown, remember you not what clamor they raised against it there? And what 
stout opposition they made to the passage of it, insomuch that its friends thought it best 
to desist ? And how they triumphed afterwards ? And when the affair was brought 
on again at East Greenwich, the next session, you can never forget with what heat and 
coarse exjiressions the same oppositions were renewed, nor the mortification and 
murmurings which the passing of it occasioned. It is true, while the Charter lay 
dormant they remained easy ; and, as you say, appeared well pleased when you had set 
it on foot at "Warren. But the reason of that is obvious. They knew that while the 
College stood friendless and moneyless, as it then did, they should have the pleasure to 
see it fall, and to mock those who began to build a tower and were not able to finish it. 
But seemed they good humored when money came thither from Europe ? Or did they 
look as the man of Bristol did, at your first Commencement, and put the same invid- 
ious construction upon everything, that he did on the complacence you showed him 
that day? Their good affection toward the College edifice was but varnish; for while 
with specious arguments they would have it here, and anon there, and then, in another 
place, they were only working to prevent it being anywhere ; and as soon as it had a 
locality, and the beginning of its existence at Providence, did they not, with some 
misled Baptists, attempt to get another college, to destroy yours, and actually carried 
their design through the Lower House ? This also failing, what remains but to prevent 
youth from resorting to it. Their slandering the ofiicers of instruction, as insufiicient ; 
the town where it is in, as a lawless place ; the college, as wanting government ; their 
representing it as a nest of Anabaptists, calculated to make proselytes ; their visiting 
grammar schools, and tampering with masters and parents ; their scolding Presbyte- 
rian youth, when they enter with you, as your neighbor Rowley did, who is capable of 
nothing but what is gross and indelicate; their refusing to pay subscriptions, etc. — are 
all intended to hurt what they could neither prevent nor destroy. Think you that 
their present opposition to the College is the effect of those newspaper complaints, and 
■threatening of Presbyterian oppression in New England ? "Why, then, did they oppose 
it before those complaints and threatenings had existence ? Think you they will be 
friends should we desist from these complaints and court their favor? It cannot be, 
except God should once teach them to love their neighbors as themselves, and do as 
they would be done by. Destroying the Baptist college will pacify them, and nothing 
else. The existence of that on the hill of Providence is a Mordecai in the gate. I told 
you, long ago, that if you could not do without the Presbyterians, you could not do at 




Isaac Backus. 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 529 

all. I need not inform you that while I deal in generals I except the honest, the 
trusty, and the good ; and some such Presbyterians I have met with in their connec- 
tions with this College. God send us more such and mend the rest. 

We may be allowed to introduce in this connection an extract from 
the second volume of Backus's "History of the Baptists in New Eng- 
land," published in 1784, while Manning, Edwards, Stiles, EUery, and 
other parties referred to were living. It gives in brief the reasons for 
founding a Baptist College, the agency of the Philadelphia Association 
in the matter, and the story of the Charter. The accuracy of Backus 
as an historian has never, we believe, been questioned. His work has 
long been regarded as a standard authority on the subjects of which it 
treats. Bancroft awards to him the highest praise. In a letter to the 
writer dated Newport, Rhode Island, Sept. 25, 1885, acknowledging 
the receipt of a cop}^ of " Chaplain Smith and the Baptists," he thus 
expresses himself: — "I look always to a Baptist historian for the 
ingenuousness, clear discernment, and determined accuracy which form 
the glory of their great historian. Backus." Being in the prime and 
vigor of life when the College was established, and an active Trustee 
from the beginning until 1799, a period of thirty-four years, being 
moreover the agent of the churches, and an intimate friend of Man- 
ning, Stillman, and Smith, the three great denominational leaders, he 
was undoubtedly familiar with all the facts pertaining to the origin and 
early progress of the College : — 

Extract from Backus. 
The Covenant of Circumcision gave those who were born in it a right to treat all 
others, both as to worship and commerce, as no others had any right to treat them. A 
right to ofiSce also in that church was hereditary. When our Saviour came he fulfilled 
the law both moral and ceremonial, and abolished those hereditary distinctions among 
mankind. But in the centuries following, deceitful philosophy took away the name 
which God has given to the Covenant (Acts vii. 8) and added the name grace to it; 
from whence came the doctrine, that dominion is founded in grace. And although this 
latter name has been exploded by many, yet the root of it has been tenaciously held fast 
and taught in all colleges and superior places of learning, as far as Christianity has 
extended, until the present time ; whereby natural affection, education, temporal 
67 



530 APPENDIX. 

interest, and self righteousness, the strongest prejudices in the world, have all con- 
spired to bind people in that way, and to bar their minds against equal liberty and 
believer's baptism. But the writings of our learned ministers in England have com- 
municated much light in this country ; to which more was added by the travels and 
labors of our Southern fathers and brethren. And hereby the Philadelphia Association 
obtained such an acquaintance with our affairs, as to bring them to an apprehension 
that it was practicable and expedient to erect a college in the Colony of Rhode Island, 
under the chief direction of the Baptists ; wherein education might be promoted and 
superior learning obtained, free of any sectarian religious tests. And Mr. James Man- 
ning, who took his first degree in New Jersey College in September, 1762, was esteemed 
a suitable leader in this important work. Therefore, on a voyage to Halifax, in July, 
1763, he called in at Newport, and proposed the affair to the Honorable Samuel Ward, 
John Gardner, Josias Lyndon, and other Baptist gentlemen and friends ; who readily 
concurred therewith, and entered upon the use of means to accomplish it. And not- 
withstanding secret contrivances and some open attempts against it, an ample Charter 
for the purpose was granted by their Legislature, in February, TIGi. In the summer 
following Mr. Manning removed to Warren, to preach to a society newly formed there, 
and to begin the School. In September, 1765, he was chosen President of the College, 
and on Sept. 7, 1769, seven young gentlemen took their first degrees therein ; and it was 
removed to Providence the next spring, where a further account of it may be given 
hereafter. 

In the third, volume of Backus's History, published in 1796, after 
the death of Manning, Edwards, and Stiles, the author recapitulates, 
entering more into detail, as follows : — 

The uppermost party among Christians have ever had the command of all colleges 
to educate religious teachers, as well as other men of superior learning, until very 
lately. Even in 1780, no ministers but Congregational ministers were allowed to be 
Overseers of the University of Cambridge, by the Massachusetts constitution of 
government. And great sums have been given to that University by the Government, 
from time to time, ever since it began in 1638. But as Providence and Rhode Island 
Colony was planted by men who were banished from the Massachusetts, because they 
conscientiously dissented from the use of force in religious affairs, and that Colony 
suffered amazingly from neighbor colonies for more than an hundred years, the people 
bave grown up with great i^rejudices against colleges, and against obeying the laws of 
■Christ for the support of his ministers. But as a minister hath died this year (Dr. 
Manning), who has done much towards removing these prejudices, I shall give a 
concise account of the affair. Mr. Isaac Eaton, who was pastor of the Baptist church 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 531 

at Hopewell, in New Jersey, from 1748 to 1772, set up a school for the education of youth 
for the ministry, as well as for other callings, in 1756, and kept it for eleven years. One 
of his scholars was Mr. James Manning, who went from his school to the college at 
Princeton, where he took his first degree in September, 1762. And as the Philadelphia 
Association were for erecting a college in Rhode Island Government, they fixed their 
eyes upon a proper leader in the affair. He therefore called in at Newport on his 
voyage to Halifax, in July, 1763, and proposed the matter to a number of gentlemen, 
who readily concurred therewith ; and as they had a high opinion of a learned Con- 
gregational minister among them, they desired him to make a draft of a Charter for a 
college in that Government. It was proposed to take in some members of the several 
denominations among them, but that the Baptists should always be the majority of the 
Corporation. He drew a Charter, which appeared to be upon this j^lan, and it was 
introduced into their Legislature ; but a Baptist gentleman discerned that there was a 
door left open for the Congregational denomination to become the majority hereafter. 
Therefore the Charter was not then passed into a law ; and when their Legislature met 
again, the Charter was not to be found. When this was heard of at Philadeli^hia, two 
gentlemen were sent from thence, who assisted in drawing a new Charter, which was 
established by the Legislature of Rhode Island, in February, 1764. 

This "new Charter," which was finally granted by the General 
Assembly, is now, and must forever continue to be (according to the 
decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the celebrated 
Dartmouth College case, which Daniel Webster so ably defended), the 
unalterable constitution of the College or University. By it the Corpor- 
ation is made to consist of two branches ; namely, that of the Trustees 
and that of the Fellows, with distinct, separate, and respective powers. 
The Trustees are thirty-six in number, of whom twenty-two are for- 
ever to be elected of the denomination called Baptists, or Antipedo- 
baptists, five of the denomination called Friends, or Quakers, five of the 
denomination called Episcopalians, and four of the denomination called 
Congregationalists. These were the denominations of New England 
more than a century ago. The number of the Fellows, including the 
President, who must always be a Fellow, is twelve, of whom eight are 
forever to be elected of the denomination called Baptists, and the rest 
indifferently of any or all denominations. The President must forever 
be a Baptist. Once in three years the Corporation, at its annual meet- 
ing, must choose from among the Trustees a Chancellor of the Uni- 



532 APPENDIX. 

versity, and a Treasurer ; and from among the Fellows, a Secretary. 
The office of the Chancellor is merely to preside as moderator of the 
Trustees ; the President, or, in his absence, the senior Fellow, being 
the moderator of the Fellows. The instruction and immediate govern- 
ment of the College is in, and must forever continue to rest in the Presi- 
dent and Fellows, or Fellowship, to whom, as a "learned faculty," 
belongs exclusively the privilege of adjudging and conferring the aca- 
demical degrees. 

This Charter, although it secures to the Baptists the control of the 
College, recognizes repeatedly, and in most unequivocal terms, the 
grand principles of religious freedom, for which the descendants of 
Roger Williams, and all true Baptists of every age, have always reso- 
lutely contended. Its provisions on this point read as follows : — 

And, furthermore, it is hereby enacted and declared, That into this liberal and 
catholic Institution shall never be admitted any religious tests ; but, on the contrary, 
all the members hereof shall forever enjoy full, free, absolute, and uninterrupted lib- 
erty of conscience: and that the places of professors, tutors, and all other officers, the 
President alone excepted, shall be free and open for all denominations of Protestants ; 
and that youth of all religious denominations shall and may be freely admitted to the 
equal advantages, emoluments, and honors of the College, or University, and shall 
receive a like fair, generous, and equal treatment during their residence therein — they 
conducting themselves peaceably, and conforming to the laws and statutes thereof ; and 
that the public teaching shall, in general, respect the sciences ; and that the sectarian 
differences of opinions shall not make any part of the public and classical instruction ; 
although all religious controversies may be studied freely, examined, and explained by 
the President, professors, and tutors, in a personal, separate, and distinct manner, to 
the youth of any or each denomination ; and, above all, a constant regard shall be paid 
to, and effectual care taken of, the morals of the College. 

The statutes of the College have been framed from time to time in 
accordance with the spirit of this Charter. So long ago as 1783, those 
students who regularly observed the seventh day as the Sabbath, were 
exempted from the operation of the law which required every student, 
as a moral duty, to attend public worship on the first day of the week. 
Those who statedly attended the Friends'' meeting were expressly 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 533 

"permitted to wear their hats within the college walls," etc., and 
"young gentlemen of the Hebrew persuasion" were formally exempted 
from the operation of the law which commanded, on penalty of expul- 
sion, that no student should deny the divine authority of the Old and 
New Testaments. And yet more ; in 1770 the Corporation declared, as 
appears from the records, that "the children of Jews may be admitted 
into this Institution, and entirely enjoy the freedom of their own relig- 
ion, without any constraint or imposition whatever." These provisions 
of the Charter, and of the statutes of the College, manifest, says a dis- 
tinguished writer,' a " delicate regard for the rights of conscience, for 
which, it is believed, hardly a parallel can be found in the history of 
similar institutions." 

And to "this liberal and catholic Institution" the youth of all 
religious denominations have freely resorted during nearly a century 
and a half for their education. Truly might Daniel Webster say, in 
his celebrated speech in the case of Stephen Girard's will, — " The 
Baptist College in Rhode Island receives and educates youth of all 
religious sects and all beliefs." Not a few of the prominent religious 
teachers and theologians connected with our various Christian sects or 
societies, throughout the land, have received their permanent serious 
impressions during the revivals of religion with which the College, or 
University, has, from its beginning, been graciously visited. 

Brown University, it is stated, in a brief account of the " rise and 
constitution of the University," published in the recent annual Cata- 
logues, " owes its origin to the happy convergence of two separate 
lines of influence." One of these "lines of influence" was the 
"Philadelphia Baptist Association, under whose auspices the Hopewell 
Academy had already been established." This the candid reader of 
the pages of our narrative will readily admit. The other "line of 
influence," the account states, was the residence, in Newport, of the 



1 William Giles Goddard, LL. D., a graduate of the College in the Class of 1812, Professor of 
Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics from 1825 until 18»4, Professor of Rhetoric from 1834 until 1842, 
member of the Board of Fellows and Secretary of the Corporation from 1843 until 1846, and a 
worshipper at St. John's Episcopal Church. 



534 APPENDIX. 

celebrated Bishop Berkeley, from 1729 until 1731, making it "impos- 
sible that the suggestion of a college for Rhode Island should be strange 
or unwelcome to thoughtful people in that Colony." The distinguished 
Dean of Derry resided on a farm which he purchased, in the neighbor- 
hood of the town, returning to his native land in September, 1731, 
thirty-two years before the arrival in Newport of Manning and Sutton, 
on their mission of the College. He had conceived the benevolent 
project of converting the savages of America to Christianity by means 
of an Episcopal College to be erected in on^ of the isles of Bermuda, 
and he came to Rhode Island to carry this project into effect. Failing 
in his object he returned to Ireland, after deeding his farm to Yale 
College, and making its library a present of one thousand volumes. 
How much influence Berkeley thus had in founding a Baptist College 
for the special education of youth for the ministry, does not, to the 
mind of the writer, at least, appear. 

The first edition of the Charter was printed in Newport, by Samuel 
Hall, under the direction of Doct. Thomas Eyres, A. M., Secretary of 
the Corporation. It is a small folio in size, on excellent paper, with- 
out date, and without the signatures of the Governor and Secretary 
of the Colony.^ Mr. Hall, the successor of Anne Franklin, widow of 
James Franklin, was a printer in Newport from 1763 until 1768, and did 
work that attracted attention for its excellence. Doct. Eyres, it will be 
remembered, was one of the committee that remodeled the Stiles draft. 
An octavo edition was reprinted for Blyth & Beevor, No. 87 Cornhill, 
London. A copy of each of these original editions is carefully pre- 
served in the College Library. From this first edition, which may be 
supposed to be correct, we print as follows : — 



1 Note. The Charter was signed and sealed on the twenty-fourth day of October, 1765. This 
first edition was probably published some time before this date, inasmuch as the signatures of the 
Governor and Secretary are wanting. At the first meeting of the Corporation held in Newport, 
in September, 1764, it was 

Resolved, " That the Charter of incorporation be inserted in the beginning of the records of this 
Corporation, and be there duly authenticated." This was done several years later on; meanwhile 
the Charter, it appears, was printed and circulated among the members. 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 535 

Charter of Brown University. 

At the General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the English Colony of 
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America, begun and 
holden by adjournment, at East Greenwich, within and for the Colony aforesaid, on 
the last Monday in February, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred 
and Sixty-four, and fourth of the Reign of his most sacred Majesty, George the Third, 
by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, and so forth. 

An Act 

FOR THE 

Establishment 

OF A 

College 

OK 

University 
Within this Colony. 

"Whereas institutions for liberal education are highly beneficial to society, by 
forming the rising generation to virtue, knowledge, and useful literature ; and thus 
preserving in the community a succession of men duly qualified for discharging the 
offices of life with usefulness and reputation ; they have therefore justly merited and 
received the attention and encouragement of every wise and well-regulated State : 
And whereas a public school or seminary, erected for that purpose within this Colony, 
to which the youth may freely resort for education in the vernacular and learned lan- 
guages, and in the liberal arts and sciences, would be for the general advantage and 
honor of the government: And whereas Daniel Jenckes, Esq., Nicholas Tillinghast, 
Esq., Nicholas Gardiner, Esq., Col. Josias Lyndon, Col. Elisha Reynolds, Peleg 
Thurston, Esq., Simon Pease, Esq., John Tillinghast, Esq., George Hazard, Esq., Col. 
Job Bennet, Nicholas Easton, Esq., Arthur Fenner, Esq., Mr. Ezekiel Gardner, Mr. 
John Waterman, Mr. James Barker, Jun., Mr. John Holmes, Solomon Drown, Esq., 
Mr. Samuel Winsor, Mr. Joseph Sheldon, Charles Rhodes, Esq., Mr. Nicholas Brown, 
Col. Barzillai Richmond, Mr. John Brown, Mr. Gideon Hoxsey, Mr. Thomas Eyres, 
Mr. Thomas Potter, Jun., Mr. Peleg Barker, Mr. Edward Thurston, Mr. William Red- 
wood, Joseph Clarke, Esq., Mr. John G. Wanton, and Mr. Thomas Robinson, with 
many other persons, appear as undertakers in the valuable design : And thereupon 
a petition hath been preferred to this Assembly, praying that full liberty and power 
may be granted unto such of them, with others, as are hereafter mentioned, to found, 
endow, order, and govern a College or University within this Colony ; and that, for 
the more effectual execution of this design, they may be incorporated into one body 



536 APPENDIX. 

politic, to be known in the law, with the powers, privileges, and franchises necessary 
lor the purposes aforesaid. 

Now THEREFORE KNOW YE, That being willing to encourage and patronize such an 
honorable and useful institution, we, the said Governor and Company, in General 
Assembly convened, do, for ourselves and our successors, in and by virtue of the power 
and authority within the jurisdiction of this Colony, to us by the Royal Charter granted 
and committed, enact, grant, constitute, ordain, and declare, and it is hereby enacted, 
granted, constituted, ordained, and declared, that the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., the 
Hon. Joseph Wanton, Jun., Esq., the Hon. Samuel Ward, Esq., the Hon. William 
Ellery, Esq., John Tillinghast, Esq., Simon Pease, Esq., James Honyman, Esq., 
Nicholas Easton, Esq., Nicholas Tillinghast, Esq., Darius Sessions, Esq., Joseph 
Harris, Esq., Francis Willett, Esq., William Logan, Esq., Daniel Jenckes, Esq., 
George Hazard, Esq., Nicholas Brown, Esq., Jeremiah Niles, Esq., Joshua Babcock, 
Esq., Mr. John G. Wanton, the Rev. Edward Upham, the Rev. Jeremiah Condy, the 
Rev. Marmaduke Brown, the Rev. Gardner Thurston, the Rev. Ezra Stiles, the Rev. 
John Graves, the Rev. John Maxson, the Rev. Samuel Winsor, the Rev. John Gano, 
the Rev. Morgan Edwards, the Rev. Isaac Eaton, the Rev. Samuel Stillman, the Rev. 
Samuel Jones, the Rev. James Manning, the Rev. Russel Mason, Col. Elisha Reynolds, 
Col. Josias Lyndon, Col. Job Bennet, Mr. Ephraim Bowen, Joshua Clarke, Esq., Capt. 
Jonathan Slade, John Taylor, Esq., Mr. Robert Strettell Jones, Azariah Dunham, Esq., 
Mr. Edward Thurston, Jun., Mr. Thomas Eyres, Mr. Thomas Hazard, and Mr. Peleg 
Barker, or such or so many of them as shall, within twelve months from the date 
hereof, accept of this trust, and qualify themselves as hereinafter directed, and their 
successors, shall be forever hereafter one body corporate and politic, in fact and name, 
to be known in law by the name of, Trustees and Fellows op the College, or 
University, in the English Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence Plantations, 
IN New England, in America; the Trustees and Fellows, at any time hereafter, 
giving such more particular name to the College, in honor of the greatest and most 
distinguished benefactor,^ or otherwise, as they shall think proper; which name, so 
given, shall, in all acts, instruments, and doings of the said body politic, be super- 
added to their corporate name aforesaid, and become a part of their legal appellation, 
by which it shall be forever known and distinguished: And that, by the same name, 
they and their successors, chosen by themselves, as hereafter prescribed, shall, and 
may, have perpetual succession; and shall, and may, be persons able and capable, in 
the law, to sue and to be sued, to plead and to be impleaded, to answer and to be 



1 September 6, 1804, " Voted, That this College be called and known in all future time by the 
name of Brown University, in Providence, in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Planta 
tions." 



HISTOEY OF THE CHARTEE. 537 

answered unto, to defend and to be defended against, in all and singular suits, causes, 
matters, actions, and doings, of what kind soever: And also to have, take, possess, 
purchase, acquire, or otherwise receive and hold lands, tenements, hereditaments, 
goods, chattels, or other estates ; of all which they may, and shall, stand and be seized, 
notwithstanding any misnomer of the College, or Corporation thereof; and by what- 
ever name, or however imperfectly the same shall be described in gift, bequest, and 
assignment, provided the true intent of the assigner or benefactor be evident: Also 
the same to grant, demise, aliene, lease, use, manage, and improve, according to the 
tenor of the donations, and to the purposes, trusts, and uses, to which they shall be 
seized thereof. And full liberty, power, and authority are hereby granted unto the 
said Trustees and Fellows, and their successors, to found a College or University 
within this Colony, for promoting the liberal arts and universal literature: And with 
the moneys, estates, and revenues, of which they shall from time to time become 
legally seized as aforesaid, to endow the same : And erect the necessary buildings and 
edifices thereof on such place within this Colony as they shall think convenient : And 
generally to regulate, order, and govern the same, appoint officers, and make laws, as 
hereinafter prescribed; and hold, use, and enjoy all the liberties, privileges, exemp- 
tions, dignities, and immunities, enjoyed by any College or University whatever. 

And furthermore, that the said Trustees and Fellows, and their successors, shall, 
and may, forever hereafter have a public seal, to use for all causes, matters, and affairs 
whatever, of them and their successors, and the same seal to alter, break, and make 
anew, from time to time, at their will and pleasure ; which seal shall always be depos- 
ited with the President, or senior Fellow. 

And furthermore, by the authority aforesaid, it is hereby enacted, ordained and 
declared, that it is now, and at all times hereafter shall continue to be, the unalterable 
constitution of this College, or University, that the Corporation thereof shall consist of 
two branches, to wit: That of the Trustees, and that of the Fellowship, with distinct, 
separate, and respective powers: And that the number of the Trustees shall, and 
may be thirty-six ; of which twenty-two shall forever be elected of the denomination 
called Baptists, or Antipedobaptists ; five shall forever be elected of the denomination 
called Friends, or Quakers ; four shall forever be elected of the denomination called 
Congregationalists, and five shall forever be elected of the denomination called Epis- 
copalians : And that the succession in this branch shall be forever chosen and filled 
up from the respective denominations in this proportion, and according to these num- 
bers : which are hereby fixed, and shall remain to perpetuity immutably the same. 
And that the said Stephen Hopkins, Joseph Wanton, Samuel Ward, William Ellery, 
John Tillinghast, Simon Pease, James Honyman, Nicholas Easton, Nicholas Tilling- 
hast, Darius Sessions, Joseph Harris, Francis Willett, Daniel Jenckes, George Hazard, 
68 



538 APPENDIX. 

Nicholas Brown, Jeremiah Niles, John G. "Wanton, Joshua Clarke, Gardner Thurston, 
John Graves, John Maxson, John Gano, Samuel "Winsor, Isaac Eaton, Samuel Still- 
man, Russel Mason, Elisha Reynolds, Josias Lyndon, Job Bennet, Ephraim Bowen, 
John Taylor, Jonathan Slade, Robert Strettell Jones, Azariah Dunham, Edward 
Thurston, Jr., and Peleg Barker, or such, or so many of them as shall qualify them- 
selves as aforesaid, shall be, and they are hereby declared and established the first and 
present Trustees. And that the number of the Fellows, inclusive of the President 
(who shall always be a Fellow), shall and may be twelve ; of which, eight shall be for- 
ever elected of the denomination called Baptists, or Antipedobaptists ; and the rest 
indifferently of any or all denominations. And that the Rev. Edward Upham, the 
Rev. Jeremiah Condy, the Rev. Marmaduke Brown, the Rev. Morgan Edwards, the 
Rev. Ezra Stiles, the Rev. Samuel Jones, the Rev. James Manning, William Logan, 
Esq., Joshua Babcock, Esq., Mr. Thomas Eyres, and Mr. Thomas Hazard, or such, or 
so many of them as shall qualify themselves as aforesaid, shall be, and they are hereby 
declared the first and present Fellows and Fellowship, to whom the President, when 
hereafter elected (who shall forever be of the denomination called Baptists, or Anti- 
pedobaptists), shall be joined to complete the number. 

And furthermore, it is declared and ordained, that the succession in both branches 
shall at all times hereafter be filled up and supplied according to these numbers, and 
this established and invariable proportion from the respective denominations by the 
separate election of both branches of this Corporation, which shall at all times sit and 
act by separate and distinct powers ; and in general, in order to the validity and con- 
summation of all acts, there shall be in the exercise of their respective, separate, and 
distinct powers, the joint concurrence of the Trustees and Fellows, by their respective 
naajorities, except in adjudging and conferring the academical degrees, which shall 
forever belong, exclusively, to the Fellowship as a learned faculty. 

And furthermore, it is constituted, that the instruction and immediate government 
of the College shall forever be, and rest in the President and Fellows, or Fellowship. 

And furthermore, it is ordained, that there shall be a general meeting of the Cor- 
poration on the first "Wednesday in September annually, within the College edifice, and 
until the same be built, at such place as they shall appoint, to consult, advise, and 
transact the affairs of the College or University: At which, or at any other time, the 
public Commencement may be held and celebrated. And that on any special emergen- 
cies, the President, with any two of the Fellows, or any three of the Fellows, exclusive 
of the President, may convoke, and they are hereby empowered to convoke, an assem- 
bly of the Corporation on twenty days' notice ; And that, in all meetings, the major 
vote of those present of the two branches respectively, shall be deemed their respective 
majorities aforesaid : Provided, That not less than twelve of the Trustees, and five of 
the Fellows, be a quorum of their respective branches. That the President, or, in his 



HISTOKY OF THE CHARTER. 539 

absence, the Senior Fellow present, shall always be Moderator of the Fellows : That 
the Corporation, at their annual meetings, once in three years, or oftener in case of 
death or removal, shall, and may choose a Chancellor of the University, and Treasurer, 
from among the Trustees, and a Secretary from among the Fellows : That the nomina- 
tion of the Chancellor shall be in the Trustees, whose office shall be only to preside as 
a Moderator of the Trustees ; and that in his absence, the Trustees shall choose a 
Moderator for the time being, by the name of Vice-Chancellor : And at any of their 
meetings, duly formed as aforesaid, shall, and may be elected a Trustee or Fellow, or 
Trustees or Fellows, in the room of those nominated in this Charter, who may refuse to 
accejit, or in the room of those who may die, resign, or be removed. 

And furthermore, it is enacted, ordained, and declared. That this Corporation, at any 
of their meetings, regularly convened as aforesaid, shall and may elect and appoint the 
President and Professors of languages, and the several parts of literature : And upon 
the demise of him or them, or either of them, their resignation or removal from his or 
their office, for misdemeanor, incapacity or unfaithfulness (for which he or they are 
hereby declared removable by this Corporation) others to elect and appoint in their 
room and stead: And at such meeting, upon the nomination of the Fellows, to elect and 
appoint tutors, stewards, butlers, and all such other officers usually appointed in 
colleges or universities, as they shall find necessary, and think fit to appoint for pro- 
moting liberal education, and the well ordering the affairs of this College; and them 
or any of them, at their discretion, to remove, and substitute others in their places. 
And, in case any President, Trustee or Fellow shall see cause to change his religious 
denomination, the Corporation is hereby empowered to declare his or their place or 
places vacant, and may proceed to fill up it or them accordingly, as before directed, 
otherwise each Trustee and Fellow, not an officer of instruction, shall continue in his 
office during life or until resignation. And further, in case either of the religious 
denominations should decline taking a part in this catholic, comprehensive and liberal 
Institution, the Trustees and Fellows shall and may complete their number, by electing 
from their respective denominations, always preserving their respective proportions 
herein before prescribed and determined : And all elections shall be by ballot, or 
written suffrage: And that a quorum of four Trustees and three Fellows may transact 
any business, excepting placing the College edifice, election of Trustees, President, Fel- 
lows and Professors, that is to say, so that their act shall be of force and validity until 
the next annual meeting, and no longer. 

And it is further enacted and ordained by the authority aforesaid. That each Trustee 
and Fellow, as well those nominated in this Charter, as all that shall hereafter be duly 
elected, shall, previous to their acting in a corporate capacity, take the engagement of 
allegiance prescribed by the law of this Colony to His Majesty, King George the Third, 
his heirs and rightful successors to the crown of Great Britain, which engagement shall 



540 APPENDIX. 

be administered to the present Trustees and Fellows, by the Governor or Deputy Gov- 
ernor of this Colony, and to those from time to time hereafter elected by their respect- 
ive Moderators, who are hereby empowered to administer the sam.e. '■ 

And still more clearly to define and ascertain the respective powers of the two 
branches, on making and enacting laws, it is further ordained and declared, That the 
Fellowship shall have power, and are hereby empowered from time to time, and at all 
times hereafter, to make, enact, and publish, all such laws, statutes, regulations, and 
ordinances, with penalties, as to them shall seem meet, for the successful instruction 
and government of said College or University, not contrary to the spirit, extent, true 
meaning and intention of the acts of the British Parliament, or the laws of this Colony ; 
and the same laws, statutes, and ordinances, to repeal : Which laws, and the repeals 
thereof, shall be laid before the Trustees, and with their approbation shall be of force 
and validity, but not otherwise. And further, the Trustees and Fellows, at their 
meetings aforesaid, shall ascertain the salaries of the respective officers, and order the 
moneys assessed on the students for tuition, fines, and incidental expenses, to be col- 
lected by the Steward, or such other officer as they shall appoint to collect the same ; 
and the same, with their revenues, and other College estates in the hands of the 
Treasurer, to appropriate in discharging salaries and other College debts : And the 
College accounts shall be annually audited and adjusted in the meeting of the Cor- 
poration. 

And furthermore, it is hereby enacted and declared. That into this liberal and 
catholic Institution shall never be admitted any religious tests: But on the contrary, 
all the members hereof shall forever enjoy full, free, absolute, and uninterrupted 
liberty of conscience : And that the places of Professors, Tutors, and all other officers, 
the President alone excepted, shall be free and open for all denominations of Protes- 
tants : And that youth of all religious denominations shall and may be freely admitted 
to the equal advantages, emoluments, and honors of the College or University; and 
shall receive a like fair, generous, and equal treatment, during their residence therein, 
they conducting themselves peaceably, and conforming to the laws and statutes thereof. 
And that the public teaching shall, in general, respect the sciences ; and that the sec- 
tarian differences of opinions shall not make any part of the public and classical 
instruction : Although all religious controversies may be studied freely, examined, 
and explained by the President, Professors, and Tutors, in a personal, separate, and 



1 September 4, 1782, the Corporation by vote omitted from the engagement the acknowledgment 
of allegiance to the British crown. 

The present form of engagement is as follows; You [person's name] being elected a member of 
this Corporation to the place of [Fellow or Trustee] do solemnly engage true allegiance to bear to 
the United States of America, and faithf nlly to discharge the duties of your present appointment-: 
And this engagement you make and give on the peril of the penalty of perjury. 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTEK. 541 

distinct manner, to the youth of any or each denomination: And above all, a constant 
regard be paid to, and eiTectual care taken of the morals of the College. 

And furthermore, for the honor and encouragement of literature, we constitute and 
declare the Fellowship aforesaid, a learned faculty; and do hereby give, grant unto, 
and invest them, and their successors, with full power and authority, and they are 
hereby authorized and empowered, by their President, and in his absence, by the 
senior Fellow, or one of the Fellows appointed by themselves at the anniversary Com- 
mencement, or at any other times, and at all times hereafter, to admit to, and confer 
any and all the learned degrees, which can or ought to be given and conferred in any 
of the colleges or universities in America ; or any such other degrees of literary honor 
as they shall devise, upon any and all such candidates and persons as the President 
and Fellows, or Fellowship, shall judge worthy of the academical honors : Which 
power of conferring degrees is hereby restricted to the learned faculty, who shall or 
may issue diplomas, or certificates, of such degrees, or confer degrees by diplomas, and 
authenticate them with the public seal of the Corporation, and the hands of the Presi- 
dent and Secretary, and of all the Professors, as witnesses, and deliver them to the 
graduates as honorable and perpetual testimonies. 

And furthermore, for the greater encouragement of the Seminary of learning, and 
that the same may be amply endowed and enfranchised with the same privileges, 
dignities, and immunities enjoyed by the American colleges, and European univer- 
sities, "We do grant, enact, ordain, and declare, and it is hereby granted, enacted, 
ordained, and declared. That the College estate, the estates, persons, and families of 
the President and Professors, for the time being, lying, and being within the Colony, 
with the persons of the Tutors and students, during their residence at the College, 
shall be freed and exempted from all taxes, serving on juries, and menial services : 
And that the persoas aforesaid shall be exempted from bearing arms, impresses, and 
military services, except in case of an invasion. 

And furthermore, for establishing the perpetuity of this Corporation, and in case 
that at any time hereafter, through oversight, or otherwise through misapprehensions 
and mistaken constructions of the powers, liberties, and franchises, herein contained, 
any laws should be enacted, or any matters done and transacted by this Corporation 
contrary to the tenor of this Charter, it is hereby enacted, ordained, and declared. 
That all such laws, acts, and doings, shall be in themselves null and void: Yet, never- 
theless, the same shall not, in any courts of law, or by the General Assembly, be 
deemed, taken, interpreted, or adjudged, into an avoidance, defeasance, or forfeiture 
of this Charter; but that the same shall be, and remain unhurt, inviolate, and entire, 
unto the said Corporation, in perpetual succession ; which Corporation may, at all 
times, and forever hereafter, proceed, and continue to act: And all their acts, con- 
formable to the powers, tenor, true intent and meaning of the Charter, shall be, and 



542 APPENDIX. 

remain in full force and validity ; the nullity and avoidance of any such illegal acts to 
the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. 

And lastly, We, the Governor and Company aforesaid, do, for ourseWes and our 
successors, forever hereby enact, grant, and confirm unto the said Trustees and Fel- 
lows, and to their successors, That this Charter of incorporation, and every part 
thereof, shall be good and available in all things in the law, according to our true 
intent and meaning: And shall be construed, reputed, and adjudged, in all cases most 
favorably on the behalf and for the best benefit and behoof of the said Trustees and 
Fellows, and their successors, so as most effectually to answer the valuable ends of 
this useful lastitution. 

In full testimony of which grant, and of all the articles and matters therein con- 
tained, the said Governor and Company do hereby order. That this act shall be signed 
by the Governor and Secretary, and sealed with the public seal of this Colony, and 
registered in the Colony's records : And that the same, or an exemplification thereof, 
shall be a sufiicient warrant to the said Corporation to hold, use, and exercise all the 
powers, franchises and immunities herein contained. 

To this copy of the first edition of the Charter we add as follows : — 

Signed and sealed at Newport, the twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five, and in the fifth year of 
[l. s. ] His Majesty's reign, George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, 
etc. King. 

Samuel Ward, Governor. 
Edward Thurston, Jr., Secretary. 

The provision in the Charter, exempting "from all taxes, the 
estates, persons, and families of the President and Professors, for the 
time being, lying and being within the Colony," has given rise from 
time to time to unhappy discussions, and alienated, doubtless, the sym- 
pathies of many from the College, or University. It was so in the 
beginning. Backus, referring to the incorporation of the " Benevolent 
Congregational Society," in 1770, and of the desire to introduce tax 
and compulsion for the support of public worship, thus states the facts 
in reference to the Charter : — 

But as the College in that town was formed upon another plan, the ministers 
refused to encourage it. And though its Charter, granted by their Legislature, explic- 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 543 

itly exempts the persons and estates of the President and Professors of the College 
" from all taxes," yet the vote of a town meeting in Providence was procured, in 
August, 1772, to limit the meaning of those words to Colony taxes only. And because 
the Baptist assessors in 1773, left said officers out of their town tax, a town meeting was 
called Feb. 7, 1774, which censured those assessors therefor, and published their 
resolves in the Gazette against extending that law to town taxes. It is hoped that 
many who were active in that affair are now convinced of their error, and are sensible 
that they did not then show the regard they ought to have done both to liberty and to 
learning. 

The "Baptist Assessors" to whom Backus refers, were Joseph 
Brown, Christopher Sheldon, and Nathaniel Wheaton, who omitted to 
assess President Manning and Professor Howell, on the ground that 
they were legally and properly exempted by the Charter. Thereupon a 
protracted discussion ensued, which was carried on in the columns of 
the Providence Grazette^ to which the reader is referred. The articles 
may be found in the weekly issues for February .5th, February 12th, 
April 16th, April 30th, and May 28th, 1774. Among the College 
archives we find the following, which illustrates the feeling that many 
entertained on the subject : — 

In order to give satisfaction to the town of Providence, we whose names are under- 
written do declare and make known, that it is our real sentiment that the College 
estate within this town (the edifice itself, the President's house and garden, and the 
land appropriated to the use of a yard to the College excepted), together with the per- 
sons and estates of the President and Professors, are in law and justice bound to pay 
their equal proportion of the town rates. Therefore we do publicly and solemnly 
promise unto the freemen of the town now in town meeting assembled, that we will, 
both in our public and private capacities, exert ourselves to the utmost of our abilities, 
to cause for the future all taxes that shall be levied on the persons and estates aforesaid 
by this town, to be punctually paid. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our 
hands in Providence, this 19th day of April, 1774. 

The original document, of wliich the foregoing is a copy, is signed 
by Thomas Greene, a Quaker, or Friend, who was elected a Trustee in 
September, 1769. No allusion to the subject appears in the records of 
the Corporation. Backus refers to a town meeting on the 7th of Feb- 



544 APPENDIX. 

ruary, when the assessors were censured, and Mr. Greene here refers to 
another meeting on the 19th of April following. Much bitterness and 
no little personal feeling were without doubt developed. Fortunately 
wise counsels eventually prevailed, and the action of the "Baptist 
Assessors" was sustained, and followed in succeeding years. The war 
with the mother country, which soon broke out, and the great personal 
influence which Manning exerted over all classes of men, contributed 
not a little, perhaps, to this result. The estates, persons, and families 
of the Presidents and Professors have thus been exempt from taxation 
from the beginning down to the present day. All other college officers, 
however, including Tutors, Instructors, Assistant Professors, Regis- 
trars, Stewards, and Librarians, have paid taxes in accordance with the 
LETTER of the law. 

Of late years this controversy in regard to the taxation of the 
President and Professors has been revived. Finally, during the prog- 
ress of the recent Civil Wah, a bill was introduced into the General 
Assembly to repeal this, to many minds objectionable provision of the 
Charter. President Sears, it was well known, favored some movement 
of the kind, having a regard for the future good of the Institution 
over which he presided, rather than his own immediate advantage. He 
argued, and with reason, that wealthy Professors, who were abundantly 
able to pay their taxes, were mainly benefited by the exemption, and 
not those who had but little, if any, property to be taxed. A public 
institution, he moreover contended, under a Republican form of gov- 
ernment like our own, could not really thrive without the good will of 
the public upon whose benefactions and sympathies it was dependent. 
On the other hand, it was contended that the General Assembly had 
never made any appropriation for the College, which had conferred 
great and lasting benefits both upon the City and State, and that any 
movement on the part of the assembled legislators to interfere with the 
chartered rights and privileges which the Professors had enjoyed for a 
century, would be ungrateful and unjust. By wise concessions and 
judicious action on the part of the Corporation, the excitement and ill 
feeling incident to the discussion of this question were allayed, and the 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTEE. 545 

most friendly relations between the College and the public at large 
were established. The President and Professors generously waived 
their rights under the Charter, and empowered the Trustees and Fel- 
lows to adopt any measures that might forward the interests of the 
University. A Committee of the Corporation, in conference with a 
Committee of the Legislature, secured the passage of an act, by which 
property not exceeding ten thousand dollars in amount was exempted 
from taxation. The validity of this act was made to depend on the 
assent of the Corporation, so that the inviolability of the Charter was 
thus recognized and preserved. In this form it secured a unanimous 
vote in the General Assembly, and also in a very large meeting of the 
Corporation convened expressly for this purpose. It is now, there- 
fore, a law. So important a movement is worthy of special mention, 
and we proceed, therefore, to give at length the details. 

By a resolution of the City Council of Newport, passed on the 4th 
of March, 1862, their State Senator was instructed to procure the alter- 
ation or repeal of so much of the Charter of Brown University as 
exempts the property of the President and Professors from taxation ; — 
the Council stating that in their opinion, there was no justifiable reason 
for such an exemption, especially at a time when all kinds of property 
were necessarily and heavily taxed for the support of Government and 
the preservation of the Union. The reason for this action, it may be 
added, was the refusal of one of the Professors, whose wife owned a 
large property in Newport, and spent her summers there, to pay the 
taxes assessed, on the ground of his position as a College officer. The 
resolution was presented to the Senate on the day following, and refer- 
red to the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration. This Commit- 
tee, at a special meeting of the General Assembly, submitted to the 
Senate, on the 26th of August, 1862, a lengthy report, drawn up by the 
late Hon. Elisha R. Potter, of South Kingstown, together with an act 
or bill for repealing the objectionable clause in the Charter, which act 
reads as follows : — 

69 



546 APPENDIX. 

An Act to amend the Charter of Brown University by repealing so much thereof 
as exempts the estates, persons, and families of the president and profess- 
ors from taxation. 

Whereas, In times of public danger all persons ought to bear their share of the 
public burdens in proportion to their ability, and this General Assembly have full con- 
fidence in the patriotism of the said President and Professors, and in their willingness 
to bear their proper share of the taxation necessary for the preservation of our Union 
and Constitution, therefore. 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows : — 

So much of the Act 'entitled, " An Act for the establishment of a College or Univer- 
sity within this Colony," passed at the February session, A. D., 1764, as exempts the 
estates, persons, and families of said Institution, now known as Brown University, from 
taxation, is hereby repealed. 

The Act was passed in the Senate, and the Report, entitled, " Right 
■of a Legislature to grant a perpetual exemption from taxation," was 
ordered to be printed. In the House, however, after a spirited debate, 
the matter was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, with instruc- 
tions from the chairman, the late Hon. Richard Ward Greene, LL.D., 
of Warwick, to present the whole subject to the Corporation of the 
University, of which he himself was a member, at the approaching 
annual meeting. This he accordingly did, and on the 4th of September, 
the Corporation referred the subject to a Select Committee of five, with 
instructions to report at a special meeting to be held on the 21st of Janu- 
ary, 1863. This Committee consisted of Doct. Samuel Boyd Tobey, 
Chancellor ; Hon. John Kingsbury, LL.D., Secretary ; Hon. William 
Samuel Patten ; Hon. Isaac Davis, LL.D. ; and Hon. Benjamin Babcock 
Thurston. They prepared an elaborate and comprehensive report, 
which was presented at the special meeting. The Corporation, however, 
after a lengthy session, adjourned without action, leaving the matter 
still in the hands of the Committee. Meanwhile the House of Repre- 
sentatives, on the 9th of February, 1863, passed the following Act, 
emanating, it is understood, from the Select Committee of the Corpora- 
tion, the Senate, two days afterwards, unanimously concurring in the 
same : — 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 547 

An Act to Limit the Exemption from Taxation of the Estates, Persons, and 

Families of the President and Professors of Brown University. 
Jt is enacted by the General Assembly as follows : — 

Section 1. The Corporation of Brown University in Providence consenting hereto, 
That the estates, persons, and families of the President and Professors for the time 
being of said University, and of their successors in office, shall not hereafter be freed 
or exempted from taxes for more than the amount of ten thousand dollars for each of 
such officers, his estate, person, and family included. 

Sec. 2. The vote of said Corporation, under the seal and certified by the Secretary 
thereof, declaring that the Corporation being authorized by the President and Pro- 
fessors of said University, does, in behalf of the President and Professors and in 
behalf of said Corporation, consent to this Act, shall be deemed and taken to be proof 
of their consent thereunto, when said vote shall have been filed in the office of the 
Secretary of State. 

The Corporation of the University, at a second special meeting, 
held Wednesday, February 11th, which was largely attended, adopted 
the following by a unanimous vote : — 

Whereas, The General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, at its present ses- 
sion on the 11th day of February, 1863, has passed an Act, the principal section of which 
is in the following words, viz. : — 

" Section 1. The Corporation of Brown University in Providence, consenting hereto. 
That the estates, persons, and families of the President and Professors for the time 
being, and of their successors in office, shall not hereafter be freed and exempted from 
taxes, for more than the amount of ten thousand dollars for each of such officers, his 
estate, person, and family included." 

And Whereas, The Institution of Brown University was established by its founders, 
was incorporated with liberal franchises by the State, has been maintained solely by 
private benefactions, all uniting for the same noble object, that is, to create and pro- 
mote a Seminary of religion and learning within this State, whose beneficent influences 
should be diffused, at home and abroad, through all time. 

And Whereas, These influences can and will be most happily diffused and contin- 
ued by a cordial good will and a harmonious co-operation between the General Assem- 
bly and citizens of this State and the University. 

And Whereas, The General Assembly by its act aforesaid, has expressed the opinion 
that the President and Professors should bear a portion of the burdens of taxation from 
which they are exempted by our Charter, and has made the validity of its said Act to 



548 APPENDIX. 

depend upon the consent of this Corporation thereto, thereby affirming and maintain- 
ing the inviolability of said Charter, 

Therefore, in order to manifest our cordial compliance with a reasonable wish of the 
General Assembly, as expressed in said Act, 

It is hereby voted and declared by the Corporation of Brown University, that being 
authorized by the President and Professors of said University, this Corporation does, 
in behalf of the President and Professors, and in behalf of said Corporation, consent to 
the said Act, passed by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island at its pres- 
ent session, as aforesaid; and the Secretary of this Corporation is hereby instructed to 
file a copy of this vote, under the seal of the Corporation, and certified by himself, in 
the office of the Secretary of State, as proof of the consent of this Corporation thereto. 

Thus a vexed and difficult question was, for the time being, happily- 
settled, and the Charter itself was preserved intact. The removal, in 
consequence, of long existing prejudices, arising in part no doubt from 
the misuse of what was intended as an eleemosynary provision for the 
encouragement of learning, rather than a basis for the exemption from 
taxation of large estates, was an auspicious omen for the future.^ That 



1 The question of taxation has recently come up in a new form. The Assessors of taxes of the 
city of Providence, assuming that the Corporation of Brown University ought not to be exempt 
from taxation on its business investments, levied in 1895 a tax on the Lyman estate adjoining the 
McNeil building on Westminster Street, which, at the regular city rate for that j'ear, amounted 
to two thousand four hundred and ninety-one dollars. A petition for the remission of this tax 
was considered by the City Council Committee on Claims, and the petitioners, representing the 
Corporation of the University, were given leave to withdraw. The Lyman estate was again taxed 
in 1896. The Corporation having paid the said tax under protest, thereupon brought action 
against the city, and the case was heard before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 
Monday, Nov. 16, 1896. Mr. Arnold Green appeared for the Corporation, and the City Solicitor, Mr. 
Francis Colwell, appeared in behalf of the city. Mr. Green stated that the property was pur- 
chased some six years ago as an investment, and that it had never since been taxed until in 1895. 
He claimed that if the city had a right to tax the building in question, it had a right to tax all the 
University property ;"— which right, if enforced, would imperil the usefulness, if not the very 
existence of the Institution, which was unable with its present funds to meet current expenses 
without help. The endowment fund, he claimed, was simply a fund for running the University, 
and could be expended in investment as well as in erecting further College buildings. City 
Solicitor Colwell was not ready to submit his brief, but stated that within twenty days he would 
attempt to prove that the building in question was not a part of the " College Estate." Leave 
was given him to prepare and submit his brief at his convenience. This he did early in January, 
in the form of a printed quarto pamphlet of nineteen pages. The defendant contends that it is 
illegal to exempt the Lyman estate property from taxation in view of Article 1, Section 2, of the 
Constitution of Rhode Island, adopted November 5, 1842, which provides that " the burdens of the 
State ought to be fairly distributed among its citizens." He further contends that the exemption 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 



549 



the University may keep on the even tenor of her way, diffusing 
throughout the State and land religion and sound learning, and that 
the citizens without distinction of party or sect, may continue to honor 
and cherish her as "their own," is a consummation most earnestly to 
be desired by all her graduates and friends. 

The following list of the names of the members of the Corporation 
at the time of the removal of the College to Providence, classified 
according to the religious denominations which they represented, as 
specified in the Charter, and also the names and residences of the 
present members, may fitly close this Chapter : — 



Trustees, 1770. 



Hon. Samuel Ward, Westerly. 

Judge DanielJenckes, Esq., Providence. 

Nicholas Brown, Esq., Providence. 

Rev. Gardner Thurston, Newport. 

Rev. John Maxson, Newport. 

Rev. John Gano, New York. 

Rev. Samuel Winsor, Johnston. 

Hon. Josias Lyndon, Newport. 

Simon Pease, Esq., Newport. 

Rev. Joshua Clarke, Hopkinton. 

Col. Job Bennet, Newport. 

Peleg Barker, Esq., Newport. 

Rev. Russell Mason, Swansea. 

Rev. Isaac Backus, Middleborough. 

Col. Sylvester Child, Warren. 

John Tanner, Esq., Newport. 

Joseph Brown, Esq., Providence. 

Nathan Spear, Esq., Boston. 

Capt. John Warren, Newport. 

William Brown, Esq., Swansea. 



John Tillinghast, Esq., Newjwrt. 
Hon. Nicholas Cooke, ^ Providence. 



1 Note. Mr. Cooke, as has already been stated 
in a previous Chapter, was elected as a Baptist 
trustee, although a member of Mr. Snow's 
church. Upon his death in 1783, the Hon. Wel- 
come Arnold, a prominent member of the Chari- 
table Baptist Society, was elected in his place. 

FRIENDS. 

Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Providence. 
John G. Wanton, Esq., Newport. 
Nicholas Easton, Esq., Middletown. 
Edward Thurston, Jr., Newport. 
Thomas Greene, Esq., Providence. 

EPISCOPALIANS. 

Gov. Joseph Wanton, Newport. 
Hon. James Honeyman, Newport. 
George Hazard, Esq., Newport. 
Joseph Russell, Esq., Providence. 
(One vacancy.) 



in the College Charter should be construed strictly, and should not be held to include anything 
beyond the estate on which the University is located. He submits that the exemptions contained 
in the Charter, while harmless if held to be repealable, constitute, if unrepealable, an abrogation 
of the powers of government which should be held to be void, or certainly voidable by subsequent 
act of the General Assembly, or of the sovereign people. The final decision of the Court at the 
present writing has not been announced. 



550 



APPENDIX. 



CONGREGATION ALISTS . 

Ephraim Bowen, M. D., Providence. 
Hon. Darius Sessions, Providence. 
Hon. James Helme, Esq., South Kings- 
town. 

(One vacancy.) 

Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Chancellor. 
Thomas Eyres, M. D., Secretary. 
Col. Job Bennet, Treasurer. 

Trustees, 1897. 

BAPTISTS. 

Marshall Woods, A.M., Providence. 

Hon. William Sprague, A. M., Narragan- 
sett Pier. 

Rev. James B. Simmons, D. D., New York 
City. 

Rev. Edward Judson, D. D., New York 
City. 

Hon. Joseph H. Walker, LL. D., Worces- 
ter, Mass. 

John Carter Brown Woods, A. M., LL. B., 
Providence. 

Hon. Andrew J. Jennings, LL. B., Fall 
River, Mass. 

Rev. Heman L. Wayland, D. D., Philadel- 
phia. 

Hon. Judge Francis A. Gaskill, A. B., 
Worcester. 

Joseph P. Earle, B. P., New York City. 

Hon. James L. Howard, A. M., Hartford, 
Ct. 

Arnold Green, LL. D., Providence. 

Rev. Henry S. Burrage, D. D., Portland, 
Me. 

Rev. Moses H. Bixby, D. D., Providence. 

Hon. James G. Patterson, A. M., Hartford, 
Ct. 

Colgate Hoyt, Esq., New York City. 

William V. Kellen, Ph. D., Boston. 

Andrew Comstock, Esq., Providence. 

Rev. William H. P. Faunce, D. D., New 
York City. 



Edgar O. Silver, A. M., Boston. 
Gardner Colby, A. M., Orange, N. J. 
(One vacancy.) 



Hon. Albert K. Smiley, A. M., Mohonk 

Lake, N. Y. 
Arnold B. Chace, D. Sc, Valley Falls. 
Richard M. Atwater, A. M., Syracuse, 

N. Y. 
Hon. Jonathan Chace, A. M., Valley Falls. 
George L. Collins, M. D., Providence. 

EPISCOPALIANS. 

Col. William Goddard, A. M., Providence. 
Robert I. Gammell, A. M., Providence. 
Hon. Oscar Lapham, A. M., Providence. 
Cornelius S, Sweetland, A. M., Provi- 
dence. 

(One vacancy.) 

CONGREGATIONALISTS . 

Hon. Elijah B. Stoddard, A. M., Worces- 
ter, Mass. 
Charles B. Gofe, Ph. D., Providence. 
Rowland G. Hazard, A. M., Peacedale. 
Eugene W. Mason, A. B., Providence. 

Col. William Goddard, A. M., Chancellor. 
Rev. Thomas D. Anderson, D. D., Secre- 
tary. 
Arnold B. Chace, D. Sc, Treasurer. 



Fellows, 1770. 

BAPTISTS. 

Rev. James Manning, A. M., President. 
Rev. Morgan Edwards, A. M., Philadel- 
phia. 
Rev. Edward Upham, A. M., Newport. 
Rev. Hezekiah Smith, A. M., Haverhill. 



HISTORY OF THE CHARTER. 



551 



Rev. Samuel Stillman, A. M., Boston. 
Rev. John Davis, A. M., Boston. 
Joshua Babcock, M. D., Westerly. 
Thomas Eyres, M. D., Newport. 

FRIEND. 

Jonathan Easton, M. D., Newport. 

EPISCOPALIAN. 

Rev. Marmaduke Browne, Newport. 

CONGREGATION ALIST . 

Hon. Jabez Bowen, A. M., Providence. 



Note. — Henry Ward, Esq., brother of the 
Honorable Samuel "Ward, was also a Fellow in 
1770. This was evidently a mistake on the part 
of the Corporation. In 1771, as appears from 
the records, he resigned, being a Baptist, and 
was appointed a Trustee in place of Robert 
Strettle Jones, of Philadelphia. 



Fellows, 1897. 



Rev. Elisha B. Andrews, D. D., LL. D., 

President. 



Rev. Alvah Hovey, D. D., LL. D., New- 
ton Centre, Mass. 

Hon. Francis Wayland, LL. D., New 
Haven, Ct. 

Hon. Thomas Durfee, LL. D., Provi- 
dence. 

Rev. Samuel W. Duncan, D. D., Brook- 
line, Mass. 

Rev. Thomas D. Anderson, D. D., Provi- 
dence. 

William W. Keen, M. D., LL. D., Phila- 
delphia. 

Rev. George E. Horr, D. D., Boston. 



EPISCOPALIAN. 



Robert H. I. 
dence. 



Goddard, A. M., Provi- 



CONGREGATIONALISTS. 



Hon. Rowland Hazard, A. M., Peacedale. 
Hon. Richard Olney, LL.D., Boston, Mass. 



Note. — The Rev. Dr. Edwards A. Park, the 
oldest member of the Board of Fellows, tendered 
his resignation in June, 1896. He had been a 
Fellow (Congregationalist) thirty-three years, 
or since 1863. His resignation was accepted, 
so read the records, " with deep regret." 



Index. 



Abbott, Daniel, former owner of part of 
College lot, 138, 139. 

Adams, John, attends Conference with 
the Baptists in Carpenter's Hall, 278, 
279. 

Adams, Samuel, attends Conference also, 
278. 

Adams, Samnel, pastor of First Baptist 
Chnrch, Newport, author of remarkable 
pamphlet, 196. 

Africans and East Indians, 467. 

Agrakian Law, to prevent monopolies of 
land, etc., 408. 

AiTKEN, Kobert, printer in Philadelphia,' 
383. 

Aitken's American Register, cited, 251, 
280. 

Alden, Abner, graduate in class of 1787, 
master of the famous school at Rayn- 
ham, and author of Reader and Spell- 
ing Book, 446. 

Alden, John, of Plymouth, ancestor of 
Rev. Noah Alden, 74; John Alden and 
Priscilla Mullins, 446. 

Alden, Noah, of Bellingham, one of the 
four illustrious names that united in 
forming the Warren Association, dele- 
gate to the Mass. State Convention of 
1780, chairman of Committee of Seven 
that framed the famous " Bill of 
Rights," 74, 75; delivered charge at 
ordination of Charles Thompson, 100; 
member of Committee on Grievances, 
166 ; present at meeting of "Warren As- 
sociation in Providence, 339; trustee of 
Baptist Education Fund, 3G7; voted 
against adoption of Federal Constitu- 
tion, 450, 451. 
70 



Alexander, Cosmo, Scotch artist, painted 
Manning's portrait, 50*3. 

Alibgne's Dictionary of Authors, cited, 
433. 

Alison, Hugh, classmate of Manning, 32. 

Alleghany College, conferred degree 
of LL. D. on Andrew Law, 288. 

Allen, Isaac, classmate of Manning, and 
valedictorian, 32. 

Allen, Richard, essay on singing in 
public worship, cited, 215. 

Allison, Burgiss, of Bordentown, 323; 
entered a young gentleman in the 
Junior class at Rhode Island College, 
457, 

Allston, "Washington, pupil of Robert 
Rogers, 63. 

Alphabetical arrangement of graduates 
at Rhode Island College, contrasted 
with the arrangement at Harvard and 
Yale, 89, 90. 

American Antiquarian Society, refer- 
ence to meeting of, 71. 

American Baptist Publication Society, 
and Dr. King's history of First BajJtist 
Church, 198. 

American Liberty, "William AVilliams's 
address at the First Commencement, 88. 

American manufactures, candidates at 
First Commencement dressed in, 85. 

AsiERicAN Revolution, to serious people 
appears to be of God, 367. See Revo- 
lution. 

Ames's hotel in Dedham, 188. 

Amherst College, Professor Tyler's ac- 
count of charter, cited, 511. 

Amwell, N. J., birthplace of Charles 
Thompson, 99. 



554 



INDEX. 



Anabaptists, name given to Baptists in 
derision, 8. 

Anderson, Thomas D., Baptist Fellow, 
and Secretary of Corporation, 550. 

Andrews, E. Benjamin, Baptist Fellow, 
and President of the University, 550. 

Andrews, John, on committee to repre- 
sent Providence before the Corporation, 
118. 

Andrews, Zeph., 153, 154. 

Angell, Deborah, wife of Asa Messer, 
455. 

Angell, James Burrill, named after 
James Burrill, 458. 

Angell, John, owner of the orchard pur- 
chased for the new meeting-house, 219. 

Angus, Joseph, late President of Regent's 
Park College, 487. 

Anti-Federalists, President Maxcy's 4th 
of July oration sarcastic against, 447 ; 
incident illustrative of hostility towards 
Federalists, 452 ; opposed to President 
Manning as leader of Federalist party, 
502. 

Antipedobaptists, 45, 537, 538. See Bap- 
tists. 

Appleton, Joseph, graduate in class of 
1772, became a clergyman, 190. 

Aquidneck, deed of, obtained through 
Roger Williams, 201. 

Arbuthnot, Admiral, fleet arrived at 
New York, 326. 

Armitage, Thomas, History of the Bap- 
tists, cited, 16. 

Arnold, Fort, at West Point, 328. 

Arnold's tavern at Morristown, 318. 

Arnold, James, clerk of meeting of Bap- 
tist Society, 219; manager of lottery for 
new meeting-house, 222. 

Arnold, Jonathan, prepared petition to 
Congress respecting College edifice, 
334. 

Arnold, Josiah, steward in 1773, 273. 

Arnold, Lyndon, appointed Tutor in 
1790, 482. 

Arnold, Oliver, signer to original peti- 
tion for charter, 517 ; Attorney General, 



J. M. Varnum studied law with, 94; 
member of committee to present and 
enforce remonstrance to General As- 
sembly, 132. 

Arnold, Thomas, took Bachelor's degree 
in 1771, distinguished lawyer and judge, 
179: received A. M. in 1774, 261. 

Arnold, Richard J., owner of James 
Sabin's former residence, 184. 

Arnold, Samuel G., History of Rhode 
Island, cited, 79, 82, 86, 309, 445; in ref- 
erence to lotteries, 221, 222; anniver- 
sary address before Charitable Baptist 
Society, cited, 223, 228, 229, 445, 496. 

Arnold, Welcome, chosen Trustee in 
room of Governor Cooke, deceased, 
348, 549; on committee with Manning 
in favor of public schools, 463 ; on com- 
mittee to superintend Manning's fu- 
neral, 496. 

Arnold, William, one of the founders of 
Rhode Island, 202, 

Artillery Company of Providence, in- 
corporated in 1744, 261. 

Ash, John, recommended by Ryland for 
honors of the College, 174; able to read 
Greek, 245. 

Ashfield, religious tyranny there carried 
to great lengths, 78; cases of suffering 
for oppression reported in 1770 to War- 
ren Association, 166 ; referred to in Cir- 
cular Letter, 167 ; Massachusetts Act of 
Oppression disallowed by His Majesty 
at Court of St. James, 168, 169; com- 
plaints of Baptists lighter than griev- 
ances, 193. 

Ashford, Thomas Ustick settled in, 310. 

Astonishing Baptist history, 198. 

Attleborough, President Maxcy born in, 
447. 

At water, Richard M., of Syracuse, Qua- 
ker Trustee, 550. 

Atwell, Amos, on committee to represent 
Providence before the Corporation, 
118. 

Atwell, Amos M., Valedictorian at Com- 
mencement of 1788, 457. 



INDEX. 



555 



Babcock, Joshua, of Westerly, Corpora- 
tor, 536; Charter member of Board of 
Fellows, 538; present at first meeting 
of Corporation, 52; present at second 
meeting, 56 ; present at final meeting to 
determine location, 120; voted in favor 
of Newport, 126; graduate of Yale, ad- 
mitted to degree of A. M. in 1774, 261 ; 
present at meeting of Corporation in 
1782, 335. 

Backus, Isaac, Trustee, and agent of the 
Baptist churches, present at second 
meeting of the Corporation, 58 ; letter 
to Dr. Gill, of London, recommending 
President Manning, 64; present at final 
meeting to determine location of the 
College, 121 ; voted in favor of Provi- 
dence, 126;. left the Standing Order 
through labors of Whitfield, 164 ; rep- 
resented First Baptist Church, Middle- 
borough, at formation of the Warren 
Association, clerk of the first meetings, 
75; minutes for 1769, appointed to re- 
ceive well attested grievances, 78; 
member of Committee on Grievances, 
166, 380; appeal to the public, collecting 
materials for his history, 255 ; present 
at meeting of the Corporation in 1782, 
336; also at meeting of the Warren As- 
sociation in Providence, 339; appointed 
with Manning and others to prepare 
Baptist Catechism and Spelling Book, 
340; sent as agent of Warren Associa- 
tion to Continental Congress, account 
of meeting in Carpenter's Hall, 276-80; 
designated by Manning as member of a 
standing committee to aid poor stu- 
dents. 366 ; Trustee of Baptist Educa- 
tion Fund, .367 ; account of reformation 
in Virginia, 379; copies of his history 
sent to Benjamin Wallin, of London, 
and never received, 421; sheets found 
in a grocery store, 423 ; more sheets 
found, 432; sent as delegate to the Fed- 
eral Convention, account of the Con- 
vention, 449-50; voted in favor of the 
Constitution, 450; used Morgan Ed- 



wards's "materials " in his church his- 
tory, 513; name omitted in the Stiles 
draft of the Charter, 520; "History of 
the Baptists in New England " a work 
of standard authority, praise awarded 
the author by Bancroft, 529; extract 
from second volume, published in 1784, 
giving account of the origin of the Col- 
lege, 529-30 ; extract from third volume, 
published in 1796, entering more into 
details, 530-31; statement respecting 
Governor Cooke that he was a Baptist, 
although member of a Congregational- 
ist church, 156 ; "A Fish caught in bis 
own Net," cited, 65; "Appeal to the 
Public," cited, 279 ; account of the Ash- 
field law, 169 ; account of Baptist certifi- 
cates, 250-51; account of Ezekiel Holli- 
man, 200; Manning and Fristoe, of Vir- 
ginia, 296; History of the Baptists, 
cited, 8, 21, 44, 74, 77, 209, 210, 335, 472, 
477, 542. See Letters. 

Badger, Moses, on committee with Man- 
ning in favor of public schools, 463. 

Barlow, Mr., Baptist minister in Kich- 
mond, N. H., 170. 

Baldwin's tavern, 315. 

Baldwin, Thomas, accustomed after 
Manning's time to preach the Com- 
mencement sermon, 85; trustee of the 
Baptist Education Fund, 367. 

Bancroft's History of the United States, 
cited, 87. 

Baptist church and meeting-house, War- 
ren, purpose formed to build a house as 
early as 1762, 47 ; erected in 1763, Man- 
ning invited by congregation to come 
and settle among them, call dated Feb. 
17,1764,47-48; church constituted Nov. 
15, 1764, covenant and Manning's call 
to become pastor, 48-51 ; parsonage 
needed for the church and the College, 
built in 1767, five hundred dollars 
towards raised by a lottery, 71-72; ex- 
tract from church records in regard to 
Warren Association, 74 ; meeting-house 
used by the College for its First Com- 



556 



INDEX. 



meucement, 81-82 ; vote offering use of 
house and parsonage for the College, 
112 ; William "Williams received as 
member of the church in 1771, 97; final 
meeting of Corporation to determine 
location of the College held in meet- 
ing-house, 120; church unwilling to ac- 
cept Manning's resignation as pastor, 
142 ; Manning resigns and goes with the 
College to Providence, church dis- 
pleased, 144-43; Charles Thompson or- 
dained as Manning's successor, 100. 

Baptist church and meeting-house, Prov- 
idence, history of, chapter V., 195-229; 
founded by Roger Williams, oldest in 
America, never in its early history ac- 
customed to contribute toward the sup- 
port of ministers or elders, Samuel 
Winsor, father and son, pastors, 46; 
Six Principle in 1764,73; account of a 
remarkable revival under Manning in 
1775, 296-97; first meeting-house built 
and presented to the church in 1700 by 
Pardon Tillinghast, 210; second house 
erected in 1726, too small for the crowds 
that flocked to hear Manning, 218 ; Soci- 
ety resolved in 1774 to build a new 
house "for the public worship of Al- 
mighty God, and also for holding Com- 
mencement in," 219; dedicated amidst 
scenes of war, 285; history of church in 
Kippon's Baptist Register, with en- 
graving of the house, English brethren 
astonished at the steeple, 486. 

BAPTiSTchurches, First, Charleston, Man- 
ning invited to become assistant pastor, 
37; Dighton, 187; Haverhill, organized 
through instrumentality of Hezekiah 
Smith, who was pastor until his death 
in 1805, 147 ; Morristown, Smith joined 
at age of nineteen, 147; First, Newport, 
earliest date given by historians, 1644^ 
197 ; First, New York, dismissed from 
Scotch Plains, John Gano first pastor, 
38; First, Philadelphia, Morgan Ed- 
wards, pastor, 11-12; William Rogers, 
pastor, 60, 187, monument erected to his 



memory, 62 ; Church and Elhanan Win- 
chester, 382-84; Rehoboth, 187; Rich- 
mond. N. H., in distress for taxes, 170; 
Scotch Plains, Manning joined in 1758, 
25; called to trial of his ministerial 
gifts, 33, licensed to preach, 34; Swan- 
sea, oldest in Massachusetts, founded 
by John Miles, members foundud 
church in Warren, 47, 187 ; Wrentham, 
William Williams ordained pastor in 
1776, 98, Warren Association met with 
in 1785, 99. 

Baptist churches rapidly multiplying, 
demanded ministers of learning, 20; 
represented at first meeting of Warren 
Association, 75; denomination to be 
the chief support of the College, 115; 
pleased with the determination to lo- 
cate the College at Providence, 122, 123, 
136; ministers of England kept from 
reading Hebrew and Greek, according 
to Ryland, by laziness, 173; two dis- 
tinct dogmas of the Baptist faith em- 
bodied in preamble to charter of Char- 
itable Baptist Society, 228; Warren 
Association voted in 1782 to publish 
Baptist Catechism and Spelling Book, 
330, 340; Education Society at Bristol 
useful in training young men for the 
ministry, 390; whole congregations of 
Congregationalists embrace Baptist 
principles, 396; Baptist members of 
Federal Convention, two-thirds of them, 
voted against the Constitution, 450. 

Baptist Education Fund, established by 
the Warren Association in 1792, after- 
wards incorporated as the Baptist Edu- 
cation Society, 367, 429. 

Baptists termed Anabaptists in derision, 
distinguishing sentiments at variance 
with religious opinions of other denom- 
inations, " poor, despised, and op- 
pressed," 8; Baptists and the American 
Revolution, Morgan Edwards the only 
Tory minister, 13; as a body hesitated 
to engage in so difficult and important 
a work as the founding of a college, 19; 



INDEX. 



557 



in the thirteen colonies numbered in 
1762 less than 70 churches, and 5,000 
members, 19, 20; met with abuse from 
those who were called " learned men," 
64, 65 ; Baptists and Separatists, 65 ; 
belief in regard to civil government, 
73; considerable body of Christians in 
1762, formed a resolution to erect a col- 
lege at the cost and expense of Baptist 
churches, applied to General Assembly 
of Rhode Island for a charter because 
of its prevalent Baptist sentiments, and 
universal toleration, 133 ; beneficence of 
a few Baptists in Providence almost 
unparalleled, 152; taxed by law to sup- 
port ministers of the Standing Order, 
171 ; Manning's account of the dispute 
between Baptists and the Standing 
Order, 177 ; imprisoned in the winter of 
1773 for the non-i>ayment of rates to the 
Congregationalists, 257; numbers in 
1764 and 1896 compared, 279; Baptists 
of England obnoxious to Episcopalians, 
298 ; " here are the poor of this world," 
366; enemies exceeding vigilant to pre- 
vent the growth of the College, from an 
idea of its importance to the Baptist 
cause, 369; all the Baptist ministers in 
London but two, and most of the Bap- 
tist clergy in this country on the side 
of the Americans during the war, 373-75 ; 
in England more flourishing than Pres- 
byterians or Independents, 375 ; preju- 
dices against greatly abated, 379 ; taxed 
and persons and property seized in 
Massachusetts and Connecticut, whole 
body determined to maintain their 
rights, 381-82; rapid increase provokes 
Congregationalists, 390; Baptists in 
England have but little idea of the 
utility of academical institutions, 391; 
Manning's statement that they are and 
ever have been, in respect to educa- 
tional matters, "a wrong headed peo- 
ple," 399; Baptists alone originators of 
the undertaking to establish a College 
in Rhode Island, 516. 



Baptism by immersion on a profession of 
faith administered by a Pedobaptist, 
believed by A. Booth to be valid, al- 
though irregular, 475. 

Bardin, Charles, signer of the original 
petition for a charter, 517. 

Barker, James, Jr., name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535. 

Barker, Peleg, Corporator, 536; Charter 
Trustee, 538; Baptist Trustee in 1770, 
549; present at first and second meet- 
ings of Corporation, 52, 57; present at 
final meeting to determine location, 
121; voted in favor of Newport, 126. 

Barnard, Henry, formerly School Com- 
missioner of Rhode Island, statement 
commending Manning's report in favor 
of public schools, 4(53. 

Barr, Shubael, signer to the original 
petition for a charter, 517. 

Barton, Mr., of Hopewell, 320, 324. 

Batterson, James G., of Hartford, Bap- 
tist Trustee, 550. 

Bayle's Dictionary presented to the 
Library, 417. 

Beach, Landlord, 316. 

Beard, Mr., of Warwick, 327. 

Beddome, Benjamin, received degree of 
A. M., 165 ; Calvinistic Baptist minister 
in Gloucester, England, able to read 
Greek, 245; donation of £20 through 
him from the estate of Dr. Foskett,264. 

Bell, English captain, taken with his 
vessel and brought to Providence, 300, 
301. 

Bell of the Baptist meeting-house, in- 
scriptions on, 22;5-24. 

Belknap's meeting-house where meet- 
ings of the Federal Convention were 
held, 450. 

Belnap, Isaac, 327. 

Belton, Joseph, member of the first 
graduating class, 90, 

Benedict, David, obligations to, ackowl- 
edged, 5; History of the Baptist De- 
nomination, cited, 22, 197, 334, 406, 520; 
placed Morgan Edwards's " materials " 



558 



INDEX. 



in the archives of the Rhode Island 
Historical Society, 513. 

Benedict, Maria, bequeathed portrait of 
Mrs. Manning to Brown University, 
36. 

Beneficent Congregational Church 
formed in 1743, 211. 

Bennet, Job, appointed a committee 
with Josias Lyndon to draft a Charter, 
43, 44, 514 ; signer of the original peti- 
tion, 517; Corporator, 536; Charter Trus- 
tee, 538; Baptist Trustee and Treas- 
urer in 1770, 549 ; present at first meeting 
of Corporation, 52; present at second 
meeting, entertained Hezekiah Smith, 
intimate friend of Manning and Smith, 
53, 57 ; present at the final meeting to 
determine the location of the College, 
121 ; voted in favor of Newport, liberal 
subscriber towards the College build- 
ing, 126 ; member of Committee of five 
to prepare and present remonstrance 
to General Assembly, 132; member of 
committee to fix upon a suitable place 
for the College edifice, 136 ; entertained 
Smith commencement week, 179; pres- 
ent at Corporation meeting, September, 
1774, 263. 

Benson, George, 402; signed letter to 
Manning asking him to preach, 472 ; 
appointed on committee to wait on 
Mrs. Manning and express sympathy 
and condolence, 495; appointed a com- 
mittee to superintend Manning's fu- 
neral, 496. 

Berkeley, Bishop, name mentioned in 
connection with the founding of the 
College, doubtful influence, 45, 533-34. 

Berridge, John, author of "Christian 
World Unmasked," Manning addresses 
a controversial letter to, 302-307. 

Berwick, cases of suffering from oppres- 
sion reported to "Warren Association, 
166. 

Bethel, Connecticut, 329. 

Bewit, Hugh, member of First Baptist 
Church, 202. 



BiDWELL, widow, of East Hartford, 315, 
331. 

Biggs, Eev. Mr., of England, 244. 

BiNNEY, Capt. Barnabas, of Boston, 262. 

BiNNEY, Avis, daughter of Captain Bin- 
ney, and wife of Nicholas Brown, 262. 

BiNNEY, Barnabas, son of Capt. Binney, 
"a worthy, humble, and meek young 
Chri.stian," 183; valedictorian of the 
class of 1774, oration on religious lib- 
erty published, 261-62. 

Binney, Horace, of Philadelphia, son of 
Barnabas, 262. 

BiOGRAPHicA Britannica, donation to 
the Library, contains Llewelyn's book- 
mark, 368. 

Bishops, popular right of electing, 409. 

Bitt's tavern, 329. 

BrxBY, Moses H., of Providence, Baptist 
Trustee, 550. 

BLACKWELL,Mr., 320, 325. 

Blair, Samuel, elected to the Presidency 
of the College of New Jersey, 28. 

Blasdel, Isaac, 161. 

Block Island, subscribed for the College 
to be located in Newport, 119; nine 
miles in length, worse than useless to 
the Colony on account of the war, 289. 

Blood, Caleb, member of the Committee 
on Grievances, 380, 454. 

Bloss, Abraham, represented Attlebor- 
ough church at first meeting of "Warren 
Association, 75. 

BoLiNGBROKE ou History, 356. 

BoNHAM Town, 324, 326. 

Booth, Abraham, "Reign of Grace," 239; 
Calvinistic Baptist minister in London, 
able to read Greek, 245; Treatise on 
Baptism most elaborate performance, 
392; highly commended by Manning, 
404; account of the author, Manning 
opens correspondence with, 256; sends 
him a diploma, 428 ; translation of Dr. 
Abadie a masterly performance, 432; 
reply to Samuel Jones's inquiry re- 
specting baptism by Pedobaptists, 475. 
See Letters. 



INDEX. 



559 



Borden, Joseph, treasurer, etc., 323, 324. 

BORDENTOWN, 323, 326. 

Boston Evening Post, address to op- 
pressed Baptists of Massachusetts from 
Committee on Grievances, 165-6. 

Boston newspapers have a talent for 
abusing their neighbors, 434. 

Boulton, "William, benefactor of the Col- 
lege, received degree of A. M., 84. 

Bourne, Benjamin, on committee with 
Manning in favor of public schools, 463. 

BowEN, Benjamin, Manning lived in his 
house on the removal of the College to 
Providence, 143. 

BowEN, Ephraim, Corporator, 536; Char- 
ter Trustee, 538; Congregationalist 
Trustee, 1770, 549; borrowed the Stiles 
Charter of Judge Jenckes, 522; present 
at final meeting of Corporation to de- 
termine location of the College, 121; 
one of the actors in the affair of the 
Gaspee, 185. 

BowEN, Francis, has a set of Gordon's 
history, 467. 

BowEN, Jabez, of Providence, Congrega- 
tionalist Fellow, 1770, 550; present at 
final meeting of Corporation to deter- 
mine location of the College, 120; re- 
ceived degree of A. M. at First Com- 
mencement, 84; on committee with 
Manning as to soliciting funds in Eu- 
rope, 190; partner of Benjamin Stelle 
in the druggist business, 226; member 
of Committee of Inspection during the 
war, 283; sent with Manning to Con- 
necticut to obtain aid for the destitute 
in Providence, 309; present at meetings 
of the Corporation in 1780 and 1782, 333, 
335; on committee with Manning to 
forma digest of College laws, 355; on 
committee in favor of public schools, 
463; has a set of Gordon's history, 467; 
signs as Chancellor of the College, 
address to Washington, 481 ; announces 
death of Manning, 495. 

BowEN, Jabez, Jr., 451. 

BowKN, Oliver, 138, 155. 



BowEN, Pardon, member of class of 1775, 
prominent physician, 288. 

BowEN, William, received degree of A. 
M., 165. 

Bowers, David, 323. 

Bowers, John, signed the original peti- 
tion for a charter, 517. 

Bowles, Captain, of Ashford, -315, 331. 

Bradford, William, Deputy Governor, 
appointed to draft address to Continen- 
tal Congress, 288. 

Bradford, William, Jr., pupil of Man- 
ning's Latin School, 52. 

Brayton, Israel, signer to original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Brick School-house on Meeting street, 
account of, Latin School kept in, 188 ; 
committee on College edifice met in, 
151 ; recommendation that it be pur- 
chased for a public school, 463. 

Bristol, attack on by the British under 
Captain Wallace, 286; petitions Con- 
gress for exemption from foreign ton- 
nage, 469. 

Bristol Academy, England, 264; Thomas 
Llewelyn bequeathed library to, 181. 

Bristol Baptist Education Society, 405 ; 
account of, 418. 

Britain, Mr., of Philadelphia, 323. 

British troops landed at Elizabethtown, 
to capture Governor Livingston, 318; 
seven hundred left Philadelphia in 
1778 to destroy vessels near, 323 ; pris- 
oners taken at Stony Point, 325 ; army 
landed on Island of Rhode Island in 
December, 1776; camp in plain view 
from the College, 365. 

Broadsides, Order of Exercises, and The- 
ses, complete set in College Library, 89. 

Brooks, Mrs., 326. 

Brother, Esquire, 329. 

Brown, Chad, great ancestor of the 
Brown family, an Elder in the church, 
according to tradition the "first Bap- 
tist Elder in Rhode Island," home-lot 
selected by the committee for the Col- 
lege edifice, 136, 137, 203, 208. 



560 



INDEX. 



Brown, John, eldest son of Chad, preached 
but not an Elder, 137. 

Brown, James, grandson of Chad, long 
an Elder of the Baptist church, 137, 208. 

Brown Brothers, Nicholas, Joseph, 
John, and Moses, grandsons of Elder 
James, active in securing subscriptions 
for Providence, endeavor to stop a 
special meeting of the Corporation, 117, 
118 ; had an interest in promoting the 
Institution now called Brown Univer- 
sity, 1.37; assume charge of building 
College edifice without commissions, 
151 ; submit in behalf of Building Com- 
mittee account of receipts and expen- 
ditures, 153-55. 

Brown, Nicholas, oldest of the " Four 
Brothers," Corporator, 536; Charter 
Trustee, 538; Baptist Trustee, 1770, 
549; present at first and second meet- 
ings of Corporation, 52, 57; present at 
final meeting to determine location of 
the College, 121 ; Hezekiah Smith 
lodges with during Commencement 
week, 179, 188; letter to Smith, 183; 
on committee to confer with Manning 
in regard to soliciting funds in Eng- 
land, 190; on various committees for 
building new meeting-house, 220, 221 ; 
on committee to draft charter for Char- 
itable Baptist Society, member of 
standing committee of eleven, 221i 
manager of lottery for Baptist meeting- 
house, 222; first moderator of Chari- 
table Baptist Society, 227 ; present at 
Corporation meeting in 1774, 263 ; Man- 
ning writes to from Philadelphia, 325 ; 
present at meetings of Corporation in 
1780, and 1782, 332, 335; on committee 
with Manning to prepare digest of Col- 
lege laws, 355; lost his new born son, 
449; has set of Gordon's history, 467: 
signs letter to Manning requesting him 
to preach, 472; in a very poor way, dis- 
order radical and fatal, 483 ; Manning's 
notice of decease, "our good friend," 
493; dwelling house on Thomas Street 



came into the possession of Obadiah 
Brown, 226. See Letters. 

Brown, Mrs. (Ehoda Jenckes), wife of 
Nicholas, died December, 1783, "hap- 
pily resigned," 386. 

Brown, Hope, daughter of Nicholas, 
(married Thomas P. Ives), gave glass 
chandeliers to Baptist church, 225. 

Brown, Miss Joey, daughter of Nicholas, 
in a decline, fast consumption, still 
survives, died " ripe for heaven," 382, 
388, 397, 399. 

Brown, Moses, youngest son of Nicholas, 
graduated in class of 1790, 481. 

Brown, Nicholas, Jr., graduated at the 
age of seventeen, in class of 1786, after- 
wards the distinguished benefactor for 
whom the University was named, 442, 
443, 451 ; gave in 1792 two thousand dol- 
lars for a lot and parsonage, afterwards 
gave organ, 225; married for second 
wife, daughter of Benjamin Stelle, 37. 

Brown, John Carter, son of Hon. Nich- 
olas, set of minutes of "Warren Associa- 
tion in his library, 79. 

Brown, Joseph, second of the "Four 
Brothers," Baptist Trustee in 1770, 549; 
on committee to draft instructions and 
prepare model for College edifice in 
"Warren, 110, 111 ; present at final meet- 
ing of Corporation to determine loca- 
tion of the College, 121 ; on committee 
to prepare model of proposed College 
building in Providence, 140; received 
degree of A. M., 165 ; meeting of Baptist 
Society held at his house in reference 
to new meeting-house, 219, 220; on va- 
rious committees, 220, 221 ; principal 
architect of the new house, 224 ; present 
at Corporation meeting in 1774, one of 
the assessors of taxes for Providence, 
263, 543; member of Committee of In- 
spection during the war, 283 ; appointed 
to draft address to Continental Con- 
gress, 283; present at meetings of Cor- 
poration in 1780, and 1782, .333, 335; 
chairman of committee to draft petition 



INDEX. 



561 



to Congress respecting College edifice, 
334 ; appointed with Manning and Hop- 
kins to make out Catalogue of the Li- 
brary, 347 ; philosophical geuiiis, chosen 
Professor of Experimental Philosophy, 
381 ; not yet completed list of appara- 
tus, 385 ; received violent stroke of apo- 
plexy, life despaired of, 396 ; indisposi- 
tion a heavy stroke to the College, 399; 
died Dec. 3, 1785, brief account of, 
419. 
Brown, John, third of the " Four Broth- 
ers," name mentioned in preamble to 
Charter, 535 ; on committee to purchase 
materials for College edifice in Warren, 
110; on committee to fix upon suitable 
place for Colleg'e edifice in Providence, 
113; chairman of the committee, 136; 
member of committee to carry on the 
building, 114, 139, 1.50 ; treated the crowd 
with punch on laying the corner stone, 
151 ; leader in the affair of the Gaspee, 
184; purchaser at auction of the old 
Baptist meeting-house, 220; committee 
man for carrying on building of new 
meeting-house, 221 ; chosen Trustee in 
place of William Brown, 264; member 
of Committee of Inspection during the 
war, 283; elected Treasurer of the Col- 
lege, 288: present at meetings of Cor- 
poration in 1780, and 1782, 333, 335 ; offers 
to advance one-half the sum necessary 
to procure philosophical apparatus and 
books, 347 ; presents to the Library 
fourteen hundred volumes ordered 
from London, 389; about finishing third 
story of College edifice, 398; on com- 
mittee to correspond with David Howell 
in regard to compensation from Con- 
gress for rents and damage, 419; Con- 
gress voted compensation later on 
through his influence, 434 ; has set of 
Gordon's history, 467 ; signed letter to 
Manning asking him to preach, 472; 
paid travelling expenses of Elder John 
Williams to Foster, 498 ; appointed on 
committee to visit and condole with 
71 



Mrs. Manning on death of the Presi- 
dent, 495. 

Brown, Moses, youngest of the " Four 
Brothers," made the first motion to 
have the College located in Providence, 
letter to Francis Wayland, cited, 112, 
113; signed the memorial from Provi- 
dence in favor of the College, 115; on 
a committee appointed at town meeting 
to present Providence subscriptions to 
Corporation, 118; account of the final 
meeting to determine location, 123, 124; 
Representative to General Assembly 
from Providence, 129; member of com- 
mittee to present and enforce remon- 
strance of Corporation, 132; letter to 
Francis Wayland in regard to College 
edifice, 137; furnished materials for life 
of Stephen Hopkins, 417; on committee 
with Manning in favor of public schools, 
463. See Letters. 

Brown, Obadiah, son of Moses, prosecu- 
ted his studies during the war, 336; be- 
came the owner of Nicholas Brown's 
dwelling, 226. 

Brown, Clarke, signer to original petition 
for charter, 517. 

Brown, Daniel, represented Warren 
church at first meeting of Warren As- 
sociation, 75. 

Brown, Esek, of Swansea, remarkable 
funeral, 194. 

Brown, Jeremiah, 138, 315, 331. 

Brown, John, Baptist minister of Ketter- 
ing, England, recommended by Ryland 
for College honors, 174; able to read 
Greek, 245. 

Brown, John, farm at Chepachet, 314. 

Brown, John, of Gloucester, 331. 

Bbown, Marmaduke, of Newport, Corpor- 
ator, 536; Charter Fellow, 538; Episco- 
pal Fellow, 1770, 550. 

Brown, Mary, daughter of Jeremiah, wife 
of David Howell, 68. 

Brown, T. Edwin, pastor of First Bap- 
tist Church, 198, 226. 

Brown, William, Baptist Trustee, 1770, 



562 



INDEX. 



549 ; votes in favor of Newport for loca- 
tion of the College, 126; resigns in 1774, 
succeeded by John Brown, 264. 

Brown University, Documentary His- 
tory published in 1867, 1 ; owes its ori- 
gin to Philadelphia Association, 7 ; rise 
and constitution as given in the annual 
catalogues, cited, 533, 534; named in 
honor of Nicholas Brown, its most dis- 
tinguished benefactor, 442. See Col- 
lege, Commencement, Corporation, 
Charter, College Edifice, etc. 

Brunswick, 324. 

Beyson, James, benefactor of the Col- 
lege, received degree at First Com- 
mencement, 84. 

BucALAW, Mr., 319. 

BucKLiN, Joseph, appointed on commit- 
tee to lay before Corporation Provi- 
<ience subscriptions, 118; one of the 
actors in affair of the Gaspee, 185. 
"Bull, Captain, 331. 

Bull's Iron Works in Kent, 316. 

Bullock, Daniel and Samuel, represen- 
ted Second Church, Rehoboth, at first 
meeting of "Warren Association, 75. 

BuNYAN, John, Manning suggests works 
of " good Mr. Bunyan" as an acceptable 
present for the Library, 238 ; works in 
six volumes presented by Benjamin 
Wallin, 254. 

Bunker HiLL,Hezekiah Smith present at 
battle of, 147. 

Burden, Lizzy, married Mr. Owen, 317. 

BuRGES, Tristam, pupil of "William Wil- 
liams at Wrentham, 98; address before 
Federal Adelphi, cited, 268, 447. 

Burr, Aaron, President of College of New 
Jersey, 26. 

Burr, Elisha, of Rehoboth, 153. 

Burragb, Henry S., of Portland, Baptist 
Trustee, 550. 

BuRRiLL, James, graduated in class of 
1788, Attorney General, Chief Justice, 
United States Senator, 458. 

Burroughs, Ezek, signer of original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 



Burroughs, William, also signer of peti- 
tion, 517. 
Burt, Esquire, good liver, 317. 

Cadet Company, incorporated as an Ar- 
tillery Company in 1744, 261, 291 ; escor- 
ted procession at Commencement of 
1774, 260. 

Cahoon, Mr., of Connecticut, 314. 

Cahoon, Daniel, meeting of Baptist Soci- 
ety held at his house, 219; member of 
standing committee of eleven, 221 ; first 
treasurer of Charitable Baptist Society, 
227 ; present at meeting of Corporation 
in 1780, 333. 

Caldwell, Samuel, pastor of First Bap- 
tist Church, history, cited, 198, 210; 
anniversary discourse, cited, 227. 

Callender's century discourse, cited, 
207 ; statement respecting division in 
Baptist church in 1653, 209. 

Camp, Landlord, 329. 

Campbell, Jacob, received degree of A. 
B.,345. 

Carpenter, William, represented Norton 
Baptist church at first meeting of War- 
ren Association, 75. 

Carter, Robert, 340. 

Caryl's Exposition on Job presented to 
Library, 434. 

Castell's Lexicon presented to Library, 
417. 

Caswell, Alexis, President of Brown 
University, 196. 

Cathcart's Baptist Encyclopaedia, cited, 
12, 13, 512. 

Certificates, Baptist churches refused 
to give, 250, 251. 

Chace, Arnold B., Quaker Trustee and 
Treasurer, 550. 

Chace. Jonathan, of Valley Falls, Quaker 
Trustee, 550. 

Chace, John B., statement respecting 
hearse used at Manning's funeral, 496. 

Champion, Judah, pastor of Congrega- 
tional church at Litchfield, 316. 

Channing, William, of Newport, 379. 



INDEX. 



563 



Charitable Baptist Society, incorpora- 
ted in 1774, fifth church charter granted 
by Legislature, drafted by Manning, 
preamble cited, 227, 228 ; Manning makes 
request in writing for meeting of to 
finish the house, his last request, 495. 

Charity, should begin at home, but not 
end there, 391, 405. 

Charlestown, exaggerated reports of re- 
pulse of British army at, 319, 321. 

Charlestown Association, plan for rais- 
ing funds for College, 22. 

Charlton, town where Charles Thomp- 
son died, 101. 

Charter, History of, Appendix, 509-5.51; 
printed in full from first edition, 534- 
542; original petition for published in 
full, 516,517; Josias Lyndon and Job 
Bennet appointed to draw, 44: drawn 
by Dr. Stiles and William Ellery, 515; 
alterations in the Stiles draft made by 
the Philadelphia committee, 519; sum- 
mary of Manning's narrative and 
Jenckes's history, 523-525; granted by 
the General Assembly at February ses- 
sion, 1764, 44,05, 523; criticised by some 
for its excessive liberality, 45 ; desig- 
nated by Edwards as " a brand plucked 
from the burning," 523; recognizes in 
most unequivocal terms the grand prin- 
ciples of religious freedom, 532-533; re- 
vised in 1782 on account of the war, 
33(); act of the Legislature limiting the 
exemption from taxation, 544-549; prop- 
erty of the University taxed in 1895 and 
1896, case brought before Appellate 
Division of the Supreme Court, 548. 

Charter, copy of the Stiles draft pre- 
sented to General Assembly in August, 
1763, lost, and afterwards recovered, 
published in full in Appendix to " Life, 
Times, and Correspondence of James 
Manning," 52,5-527. 

Charter for another college to be located 
at Newport, passed Lower House of 
the General Assembly, February ses- 
sion, 1770, 129-131 ; manuscript in the 



handwriting of Dr. Stiles in poseession 
of the late David King, impression of 
seal in writer's possession, 134. 

Charter of Amherst College, Professor 
Tyler's account of, 511. 

Chatterton's Hill, Gano's fearless con- 
duct at battle of, 39. 

Chauncy, Charles, of Boston, addresses 
Dr. Stennett of London in regard to 
New England Baptists, 192 ; draft of first 
charter loaned him by Dr. Stiles, 526. 

Chelmsford, Baptist church taxed to 
parish teachers, 250. 

Child, Cromel, signed the original peti^- 
tion for charter, 517 ; daughter married 
James Mitchel Varnum, 94. 

Child, John, extends with otliers call to 
Manning in behalf of Warren Baptist 
church, 51. 

Child, Sylvester, of Warren, Baptist 
Trustee, 1770, 549; signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517 ; chairman of Com- 
mittee to purchase materials for College 
building in Warren, 110; present at 
final meeting to determine location of 
College, 121 ; votes in favor of Provi- 
dence, 126; member of committee to 
carry on building of College edifice in 
Providence, 114, 139, 150; appointed on 
committee to draft address to Conti- 
nental Congress, 288 ; daughter married 
Charles Thompson, 100. 

Christian Ministry, Manning's charge 
to candidates for, 471, 472. 

Church militant, 401. 

Circular Letter of Warren Association, 
1769, prepared by Manning, 80, 81. 

Civil and Religious Liberty, better un- 
derstood in New England after the war, 
390. 

Claridge, Richard, answer to Richard 
Allen's essay on singing, cited, 215. 

Clark, Henry C, erected monument to 
memory of Ebenezer Knight Dexter, 68. 

Clark, AVilliam, benefactor of the Col- 
lege, received degree of A. M., 84; Cal- 
vinistic Baptist minister in London, 



564 



INDEX. 



able to read Greek, 244; portrait in 
Rippon's Baptist Register, 487. 

Clarke, John, 106; baptized in Seekonk 
River, 206. 

Clarke, Joseph, signer to original peti- 
tion for charter, 517 ; name mentioned 
in preamble, 517. 

Clarke, Joshua, of Hopkinton, signer to 
original petition for charter, 517 ; Cor- 
porator, 536; Charter Trustee, 538; Bap- 
tist Trustee, 1770, 549. 

Clarke, Captain Peleg, 309. 

Clergy in Connecticut, have great polit- 
ical influence, 329. 

Clergy of New England, inveterate en- 
mity of towards the College, 192; 
" Thank God they don't govern the 
world," 193. 

Clinton's New York brigade, Gano chap- 
lain of, 38. 

Clock of First Baptist meeting-house, 
account of, 224. 

Clymer, of Philadelphia, threatened with 
banishment to New York, 323. 

Cochrane, Surgeon-General at "West 
Point, 328. 

CoDDiNGTON, Govcmor of Rhode Island, 
statement in regard to Roger Williams 
and his baptism, 196, 201. 

CoE, Curtis, graduated in class of 1776, 
291. 

Coffin, Paul, signer to the original peti- 
tion for a charter, 517. 

CoLBURN, Josiah, represented Baptist 
church, Boston, at first meeting of War- 
ren Association, 75. 

Colby, Gardner, of Orange, N. J., Bap- 
tist Trustee. 

Colchester, N. H., cases of suffering for 
oppression reported to Warren Associa- 
tion, 166. 

Cole, A., 154. 

Cole, Benjamin, extends with others 
call to Manning to become pastor of 
Warren church, 51; represents Warren 
church at first meeting of the Associa- 
tion, 75. 



Cole, Ebenezer, member of committee to 
extend call to Manning in New Jersey, 
48; extends with others call to Man- 
ning to become pastor of the church, 
51 ; appointed in behalf of the church 
to request Manning to attend a church 
meeting, 142. 

Cole, John, Postmaster of Providence, 
signed memorial in favor of the Col- 
lege, 115; continued on a committee of 
the town to lay before the Corporation 
the Providence subscriptions, 118. 

Cole, Robert, one of the founders of 
Rhode Island, 202. 

Coles, Esquire, 48. 

Coles, Benjamin, pastor of Baptist 
church at Hopewell, 319, 320, 324. 

College, Baptist, settled "in the Rhode 
Island Government" through the ef- 
forts of Morgan Edwards, 13 ; " Baptists 
have begun College of their own," may 
never imagine to confine Christ or his 
church to the College for ministers, 65; 
Warren selected for first location, con- 
tinued there six years, 47-107; removed 
to Providence in 1770, corner-stone of 
the building laid in May, 136 ; lands 
originally comprised eight acres, cost 
$730, 154; Manning, Howell, and stu- 
dents left Warren for Providence Fri- 
day, May 4, 1770, 143 ; Manning's account 
of in 1771, unreasonable opposition made 
against it by the Congregationalists of 
New England, 172; bitterness of Con- 
gregationalists towards, illustrated in 
letter from Morgan Edwards, 174; in 
keeping with the opposition and un- 
friendliness experienced by Roger Wil- 
liams, 175 ; clergy of the Standing Order 
use all their endeavors to prevent 
scholars from coming to a Baptist Col- 
lege, 177 ; liberal and catholic, aiming 
at the good of mankind, 180; apparatus 
consists of pair of globes, two micro- 
scopes, and an electrical machine, 181; 
"jealous eye with which other denomi- 
nations behold this infant Seminary," 



INDEX. 



565 



182 ; enemies of the Institution, so writes 
Nicholas Brown, doing what mischief 
they can by discouraging scholars from 
coming here, 183; history of to be pre- 
pared by Manning, and copies sent to 
England, 235, 242, 244, 253, 257, 258 ; Man- 
ning's history in 1773, published in Doc- 
umentary History of Brown Univer- 
sity, 236; detail of facts and ill will 
toward, given in a letter to Ryland, 
,242-3 ; number of scholars in 1773 thirty, 
243; Solomon Drowne recited with first 
class that met in the new College build- 
ing, 1771, 246; Drowne's diary giving 
college studies in 1770-73, 246-47 ; thirty- 
six students in 1774, 262 ; committee of 
senior class, 1775, publish communica- 
tion in Providence Gazette, 286 ; course 
of studies suspended and building occu- 
pied for barracks and an hospital from 
Dec. 7, 1776, until May 27, 1782, 293; 
number of students in 1770, 1772, 1773, 
1774, 1775, 293 ; students engaged in the 
great revival of 1774-75, 296-97 ; account 
of expected by Benjamin Wallin before 
the war, 300; Judge Howell resigns his 
professorship in 1779, 311 ; efforts to re- 
vive instruction in 1780, 333; seal, 
which had busts of the'King and Queen, 
broken, and committee appointed to 
make new one, 337; "only Baptist in- 
stitution on the continent," 340 ; in view 
of the smallness of the funds Manning 
offers to go abroad and solicit subscrip- 
tions, 345; device for College seal ap- 
proved by Corporation, 349 ; founded in 
1764, small beginnings and small en- 
dowments, 354 ; not yet received a name 
for want of some distinguished bene- 
factor, 3t)0; twelve students in Novem- 
ber, 1782, College waiting for a name, 
has contributed not a little to the inter- 
ests of religion, civil liberty, and the 
progress of the Baptist denomination, 
361 ; instrumental in greatly promoting 
Baptist principles and the spread of 
civil and religious liberty, 365 ; Man- 



ning writes to Thomas Llewelyn, of 
London, requesting him to patronize the 
Institution, and give it a name, 368-70; 
those inimical to the Baptists exceed- 
ing vigilant to prevent its growth, 369; 
Circular Letter of Warren Association 
in 1783, commending the College and 
urging contributions toward its sup- 
port, 371; consists of thirteen members 
in March, 1784, and twenty-two mem- 
bers in August, 379, 385 ; promises bet- 
ter than at any former period, 387-8; at 
the commencement of the war in a 
growing state, forty students and a 
good Latin School in the College edi- 
fice, 389; number of students in Sep- 
tember, 1784, thirty, one Tutor, and 
small Latin School, 390; Institution has 
greatly contributed to the perpetuity of 
Baptist denomination, .390; number of 
students in July, 1785, thirty-five, one 
lately converted, 403; continues to in- 
crease, 405, 414; petition to Congress 
for rents and damage to building dur- 
ing the war, address to David Howell, 
418 ; number of students in April, 1786, 
about fifty, 429; Manning induced to 
accept an appointment to Congress in 
hope to benefit the College, 431; would 
flourish greatly but for the scarcity of 
money, 4.31 ; named Brown University 
after Nicholas Brown, 442; still desti- 
tute of a steward, no commons, 444; 
students delinquent in paying bills, 
445 ; has more students than ever, June, 
1788, 457; several students down with 
the measles, a few under serious im- 
pressions, 477 ; "Washington's visit to, in 
1790,480-1; receives degree of LL. D., 
482; affairs not prosperous, number of 
students, June, 1791, about fifty-five, 
493; established in Rhode Island be- 
cause the Legislature was chiefly in the 
hands of Baptists, 514; origin of as- 
cribed by some to the teachings and 
silent influence of Bishop Berkeley, 
512 ; Backus's account of the origin of. 



566 



INDEX. 



529-31. See also Brown University, 
Charter, Corporation, Commence- 
ment, College Edifice, College Laws, 
Latin School, and Manning. 
College Edifice, now University Hall, 
to be on the same plan as that of Prince- 
ton, 122; workmen began to break 
ground for, Tuesday, March 27, 1770, 
139: corner-stone laid May 14, 136,151; 
vote of the Corporation that it be 150 
feet long, 46 feet wide, and 4 stories 
high, 140; the "Four Brothers" as- 
sume charge of the building, 151 ; de- 
scription of given by Manning in his 
correspondence, and in Providence Ga- 
zette, 152, 159, 165, 181 ; engraving of, 
with President's house and garden as 
it was in Manning's time, 157; lower 
rooms finished March 30, 1772, 183 ; Cor- 
poration makes application to General 
Assembly to forward memorial to Con- 
tinental Congress for remuneration for 
rents and damage during war, 333; re- 
jjeated applications, act for compensa- 
tion finally passed by Congress in April, 
1800, 334; taken for use of American 
troops and French army from Dec. 17, 
1776, until May 27, 1782,, 335, 389; sub- 
scription opened for raising £300 for 
purpose of repairing, petition to Gen- 
eral Assembly detailing damages, etc., 
337-38; account of its use during the 
Avar in letter to " His Most Christian 
Majesty," 353; all the rooms in two 
lower stories now full, July, 1784, must 
go directly to finishing third and fourth 
stories, 388; Manning writes to Judge 
Howell about an a]3plication to Con- 
gress for damages, 397; John Brown 
about finishing third story, March, 1785, 
398. 

College Laws and Customs, based upon 
those in College of New Jersey, 264; in 
1774, given in full from Enoch Pond's 
manuscript copy, 264-275; enacted by 
the Corporation in 1783, 355-59. 

College of New Jersey, now Princeton 



University, established by Presbyte- 
rians, founded in 1746, under the au- 
spices of Synod of New York, 20, 25 ; first 
efforts for in connection with first 
schism in Presbyterian Church, Jona- 
than Dickinson, first President, leader 
of the Old Synod of Philadelphia, also 
leader of new Synod of New York, 25; 
College owes its origin, in part, to ex- 
pulsion of David Brainard and the 
Cleveland brothers from Yale, 26; first 
located at Elizabethtown, removed to 
Newark, and then to Princeton, 26 ; re- 
quirements for admission, laws and 
customs, 28-31; funds increased by 
lotteries, 187. See Manning. 

Collins, Mr., 322, 325. 

Collins, George L., of Providence, Qua- 
ker Trustee, 550. 

Columbia College under Episcopal con- 
trol, 548. 

CoLWELL, Francis, City Solicitor, 548; 
submits to Appellate Division of Su- 
preme Court, in behalf of city, brief, 
contending that it is constitutionally 
illegal, etc,, to exempt College from 
taxation, 548-49. 

Collins, Governor, casts decisive vote of 
Senate concurring with Lower House 
in calling Convention, 478. 

Commencement on first Wednesday in 
September, Warren Association to 
meet Tuesday after, 77 ; First Com- 
mencement in Warren, Sept. 7, 1769, 
red-letter day, full account, sketches of 
graduates, etc., 82-107; custom of a 
Commencement sermon inaugurated by 
Morgan Edwards, 85; Smith, Stillman, 
and Baldwin, the usual preachers, 56; 
second Commencement held in Snow's 
meeting-house. Providence, 1770, ac- 
count of, 163-165; third, 1771, 179-180; 
fourth, 1772, Smith's diary, cited, ac- 
count in Providence Gazette, 188-190; 
fifth, 1773, objections made on the 
ground that members of the Senior 
class were not orators, 246; account of 



INDEX. 



567 



exercises from diary of Solomon 
Drowne, 247 ; Manning's charge to grad- 
uating class, 248-249 ; Smith's diary giv- 
ing account of Commencement week, 
250; sixth, 1774, held for the last time 
in Mr. Snow's meeting-house, account 
from Providence Gazette, 260-261 ; 1775, 
committee from Senior class address 
communication to President and Pro- 
fessor requesting that there be no 
Commencement exercises on account 
of the war, Faculty accede to request, 
battles of Lexington, Concord, and 
Bunker Hill, absorb public attention, 
286-288; 1776, held as usual, and for the 
first time in the new Baptist meeting- 
house, last one held during the War, 
291-292; 1783, public exercises resumed. 
Dr. Stillman preached an animating 
sermon from Luke xv. i32, no record of 
order of exercises. Providence Gazette, 
cited, 344-345; 1783, Manning's account 
of, in letter to David Howell, "equal 
to any ever had," 347; diary of Heze- 
kiah Smith respecting, 349 ; 1786, exer- 
cises resumed. Manning in New York 
as a member of Congress, 442 ; 1787, ac- 
acount of, 446-447; 1788, account of, 
exercises as usual continued through 
the day, concourse of people pro- 
digious, 457-458; 1789, Manning's charge 
to graduating class, 470^72; 1790, 
last Commencement at which Man- 
ning presided, twenty-two took their 
degree, largest number that had ever 
graduated, 481-482; accounts of Com- 
mencements for the years 1789-1801 
published in the four volumes of Rip- 
pon's Annual Register, 487. 
Commencement at Yale in 1772, Smith and 
Howell attended and received degree 
of A. M., 189. 
■Commercial embarrassments multiplied. 

425. 
Committee on Grievances of Warren 
Association, 166; advise their agent to 
write to the churches not to give in any 



more certificates, 251 ; to meet May 26, 
1774, in Boston, if no redress is granted 
will apply to the King through their 
London agents, 257 ; members of, in 
1784, 380. 

Committee of Inspection, 1775, 283. 

Commons, rules concerning in 1774, stew- 
ards, etc., 273-275; board seven shil- 
lings and sixpence in 1784, 385. 

CoMPTON, William, 154. 

CoMSTOCK, Andrew, of Providence, Bap- 
tist Trustee, 550. 

CoNANicuT Island, nine miles in length, 
threatening demands on, deserted on 
account of the War, 286, 289. 

CoNDY, Jeremiah, name omitted in Stiles 
draft of charter, 520; Corporator, 536; 
Charter Fellow, 538; one of the two 
Baptist ministers in New England in 
1755 who had a liberal education, 64; 
present at first meeting of Corporation, 
52. 

Confederation, articles of utterly inad- 
equate to the purposes of government, 
424; inefficient to promote social order 
and protect paramount interests, 448. 

Congress passed an act, April 16, 1800, for 
relief of Corporation of the College, 3.34. 

Congress or the Confederation, Gen- 
eral Varnum appointed a delegate to in 
1780, 95 ; in 1779 reduced to a very low 
ebb, the ablest members having left it, 
313 ; members of entitled to a good liv- 
ing, if not. Manning begs to know who 
are, 397; in 1786 obliged to adjourn for 
want of sufficient number of states rep- 
resented, members alarmed at present 
crisis, empty treasury, collection of 
taxes postponed, etc., 438. 
Congregational Courts, Granville Sharp 

on, 409, 410. 
Congregational Society in Providence 

organized in 1720, 211. 
CoNGREGATioNALisT ministers in Massa- 
chusetts, twelve members of the Fed- 
eral Convention voted in favor of the 
Constitution, 450. 



568 



INDEX. 



Congregation ALiSTS, opposition of to the 
Charter and to the College as stated by- 
Morgan Edwards, 527-529; of New 
Hampshire require Baptists to pay their 
minister, 171 ; inveterate enmity of the 
New England clergy toward the Col- 
lege, " thank God, they don't govern 
the world," 192-193; clergy of Ashfield 
busy in collecting scandalous reports 
respecting the Baptists, 193; detail of 
facts and instances of ill will toward 
the College, 242-243; in Cambridge, 
Brookfield, Woodstock, and other 
places, make distress in 1774. on the 
Baptists, 381-2; whole congregations 
embrace Baptist principles, 396. See 
Pedobaptists, Presbyterians, Stand- 
ing Order, Committee on Grievances, 
Charter, Warren Association, etc. 

Connecticut, aided the distressed inhab- 
itants of Rhode Island during the War, 
309; invasion of by the British under 
Governor Tyron, of New York, 324. 

Connecticut Farms, residence of John 
Stites, Manning's father-in-law, 35, 324, 
326. 

CoNOLLY, Mr., 322. 

Continental Congress, proposed by 
Providence, May 17, 1774, in town meet- 
ing, 260 ; Backus sent to by Warren As- 
sociation as agent to secure for Baptist 
churches religious liberty, account of 
meeting in Carpenter's Hall, 276-280; 
principal measures adopted by First 
Congress, 280. 

Continental Fast, May 6, 1779, 315. 

Continental Ferry, 328. 

Continental Store, Manning preaches 
at, 327. 

Convention, May 24, 1790, for adoption of 
Federal Constitution, account of, 479- 
480. 

Cook's " Story of the Baptists," cited, 10. 

CooKE, Amasa, graduate at Commence- 
ment of 1776, 291. 

Cooke, Nicholas, chairman of Auditing 
Committee on College building, took 



his engagement as Trustee in 1769, Bap- 
tist, though in communion with Mr. 
Snow's church, 156; present at final 
meeting of Corporation to determine 
location of the College, 121 ; Baptist 
Trustee in 1770, 549; one of the liberal 
subscribers toward the College edifice, 
157; member of Committee of Inspec- 
tion, 283; famous "War Governor," 
appointed to office in place of Governor 
Wanton, deposed, 284; present at meet- 
ings of Corporation in 1780 and 1782, 
333, 335; Welcome Arnold chosen Trus- 
tee in 1783 in room of Governor Cooke, 
deceased, 348. 

CooKE, Silas, signer to original petition 
for charter, 517. 

Coomer, John, presents with others call 
to Manning to become pastor of Warren 
church, 50. 

CooMER, John, Jr., pupil of Manning's 
Latin School, 52. 

Corliss, Captain, of Killingly, 314, 331. 

Cork, Ireland, Morgan Edwards pastor 
of Baptist church in, 12. 

Cornell, Gideon, signer of original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Corporation, first annual meeting held 
in Newport, first Wednesday in Sep- 
tember, 1764, 52; second annual meet- 
ing held in Colony House, Newport, 
1765, 53; brief sketches of members 
present, extracts from records, 54-58; 
special meeting held in Newport, Nov. 
20, 1766, to consider Morgan Edwards's 
offer to go to Europe and solicit funds, 
69; September, 1767, extracts from rec- 
ords, 68; Smith's diary respecting, 74 ; 
September, 1768, extracts from records, 
69, 109; sixth annual meeting held in 
Warren, September, 1769, 81; records 
in reference to College building, 110, 
111 ; committee appointed to prepare 
complete model, 139; vote desiring 
Hezekiah Smith to solicit benefactions 
in the South, 145; copy of credentials, 
146; special meeting on the question of 



INDEX. 



569 



permanent location of the College held 
in Newport, Nov. 14-16, 1769, extracts 
from records, 113; citation for another 
meeting, 118; special and final meeting 
to determine permanent location held 
in "Warren, Feb. 7 and 8, 1770, proceed- 
ings, votes, etc., "Resolved, That the 
said edifice be built in the town of 
Providence, and there be continued 
forever," 120-128; all the Baptist min- 
isters present appointed a committee to 
wait on President Manning, and request 
him to go with the College to Provi- 
dence, 141; special meeting held in 
Warren, April 25, 1770, called on account 
of application to General Assembly for 
another college to be located in New- 
port, memorial and remonstrance pre- 
pared by committee of five and pre- 
sented to General Assembly, 131-134; 
voted that the President's salary be 
£100, lawful money, 142; annual meet- 
ing, September, 1770, held in Provi- 
dence for first time, vote in favor of 
children of Jews being admitted to Col- 
lege, vote of thanks on receipt of Heze- 
kiah Smith's account of donations and 
subscriptions, 150; voted, that the 
Chancellor, President, and Secretary 
be committee to authorize any one to 
" take and collect subscriptions in any 
part of the world," 158; extract from 
records, 152; September, 1771, account 
of receipts and exjienditures for Col- 
lege edifice submitted by Nicholas 
Brown & Co., in behalf of Building 
Committee, 153-155; report of auditing 
committee and vote of thanks, 156; 
September, 1772, votes relative to Col- 
lege edifice, 157 ; vote suggesting that 
the President solicit donations in Eu- 
rope, 190; September, 1773, 157; David 
Howell elected Fellow, 250; September, 
1774, proceedings, 263-264 ; thanks voted 
to John Gano for his endeavors to pro- 
mote subscribtions in the South, 158; 
September, 1775, ten young men ad- 



mitted to degree of A. B., John Brown 
elected Treasurer, 288 ; September, 1776, 
account of meeting, 292; September, 
1777, conferred degrees in the new meet- 
ing-house, no Commencement, 307 ; May 
5, 1780, special meeting, 333: no records 
kept during the War, 335 ; September, 
1782, committee appointed to draft pe- 
tition to Congress for compensation for 
rent and damage to College edifice dur- 
ing the War, 334 ; Sept. 14, 1782, meet- 
ing fnlly attended, account of proceed- 
ings, seven admitted to degree of A. B., 
changes made in Charter, petition to 
General Assembly respecting College 
edifice, 335-338; Jan. 27, 1783, special 
meeting, extract from records, 345; 
September, 1783, account of proceed- 
ings in letter from Manning to Judge 
Howell, 345-6 ; diary of Hezekiah Smith 
respecting, 349; most important busi- 
ness confirming and ratifying new di- 
gest of College laws, 355; Jan. 7, 1784, 
special meeting, address, and petition 
to King of France read and approved, 
350; address in full copied from origi- 
nal document, 350-51 ; September, 1784, 
voted, that the President use his in- 
fluence to establish a grammar school 
as an appendage to the College, 387; 
March, 13, 1786, special meeting, ab- 
sence granted to President Manning to 
sit in Congress as a delegate from Rhode 
Island, Rev. Perez Fobes, LL. D., of 
Raynham, appointed to take charge of 
the College In his absence, 426; Aug. 
17, 1790, special meeting, 481; April 13, 
1791, special meeting, Manning notified 
Corporation to look out for a successor 
to take his place, 4i)4; Friday, July 28, 
1791, special meeting, death of Manning 
announced, 495; Corporation erect a 
stone to the memory of Manning, 
inscription upon from pen of Judge 
Howell, 503, 505. 
Cosset, Rama, received degree of A. M., 
261. 



670 



INDEX. 



Cotton, John, of Boston, 196; church 
sent deputation to church in Ports- 
mouth, R. I., 197. 

Cotton's society. Providence, Deacon 
Joseph Snow and others withdrew from 
in 1743, and founded society of " New 
Lights," 163. 

Courses of Instruction in 1783, 355-356. 

Court of St. James, Ashfield act op- 
pressing Baptists and Quakers disal- 
lowed at 168-69. 

Covenant of the Baptist Church, War- 
ren, preserved in Manning's handwrit- 
ing, 48; regarded as the creed of the 
church, 49. 

Coventry Baptist Church Six Principle 
in 1764, 73. 

Covey, Mr., of Farmington, 315. 

Cram, Wadley, and Elizabeth his wife, 
161. 

Cranberry, 324, 326. 

Cranston Baptist Church, Six Principle 
in 1764, 73. 

Credit, public, impaired, 425. 

Cross, Mr., of New Winsor, 317. 

Cumberland Baptist Church, Six Princi- 
ple in 1764, 73. 

CuMMiNGS, Abraham, oration in Hebrew, 
in 1776, 291. 

Currie, Robert, 153. 

Currency, alarming state of in 1779, 313. 

Curtis, Mr., son-in-law of R. Robinson, 
490. 

CusHiNG, Thomas, attends conference 
with Baptists in Carpenter's Hall, 278. 

Cutting, S. S., articles, cited, 21, 514-15. 

Dal Verme of Milan, Count, present at 
Commencement, 1783, 347 ; anecdote re- 
specting, 349-50. 

Danbury, Ct., ruins of affecting, marked 
with traces of British inhumanity, 329. 

Darby, Henry, committee of White Clay 
Creek met at his house, Morgan Ed- 
wards present, 13. 

Darby, William, deacon in Scotch Plains 
church, 33, 34. 



Dark Day of 1780, Williams's account of, 
cited, 310. 

Dartmouth College, charter obtained 
by Dr. Wheelock, designed originally 
as a school for the poor Indians, 178; 
expenses greater than at Rhode Island 
College, 451 ; case of, defended by Daniel 
Webster before Supreme Court of the ■ 
United States, 531. 

Dartmouth, Lord, benefactor of Dart- 
mouth College, 369. 

Daughters of Liberty, 87. 

Davenport's at Newfoundland, 318, 327. 

David, Ebenezer, valedictorian of class of 
1772, converted in College, chaplain in 
the army, 190: one of the best of in- 
structors, 264. 

Davies, Benjamin, Calvinistic Baptist 
minister in Wales, able to read Greek, 
245. 

Davies, Samuel, fourth President of Col- 
lege of New Jersey, brief account of, 
26-27. 

Davis, Isaac, of Worcester, member of 
committee of five on question of taxa- 
tion, 546. 

Davis, John, pupil of Isaac Eaton at 
Hopewell Academy, 9; name omitted 
in Stiles draft of charter, 520 ; Baptist 
Fellow in 1770, 550; received degree of 
A. M. at First Commencement, 84; 
chairman of committee to present peti- 
tions to General Court of Massachu- 
setts respecting persecutions of Bap- 
tists, 78; on committee to draft instruc- 
tions and prepare model for College 
building in Warren, 110, 111; member 
of Committee on Grievances, 166; ap- 
pointed agent of the churches, 168. 

Davis, Samuel, 321, 325. 

Dawson, Mr., a Sabbatarian Baptist, 299. 

Day, Robert, Baptist minister recom- 
mended by Ryland for honors of the 
College, 174; able to read Greek, 245. 

Dayton, Dr., 326; executor of estate of 
John Stites, 342. 

Dead River, 326. 



INDEX. 



571 



Declamations on the stage in 1774,268; 
in 1783, 356. 

Declaration of Independence, argu- 
ments of, set forth by William Williams 
at First Commencement, in 1769, 87-88; 
adopted in July, 1776, event celebrated 
in Providence, July 25, 291. 

Dedham, Ezekiel Holliman one of the 
founders of, 200. 

Deerfield, Baptist church constituted in 
1770, 161. 

Dennis, Captain, 319, 320. 

Dennis, John, pupil in Manning's Latin 
School, 52; graduate in class of 1770, 
164; received degree of A. M. in 1773, 
247. 

Dennis, Sarah, daughter of John, and 
wife of Richard Stites, 93. 

Dexter, Ebenezer Knight, son-in-law of 
David Howell, monument to his mem- 
ory erected by Henry C. Clark, 68. 

Dexter, Gregory, one of the original 
members of Baptist church, 203; elder 
of, 208. 

Dickinson, Jonathan, first President of 
College of New Jersey, 24, 25. 

Disney's memoirs of Hollis, cited, 160. 

Dissenters in England not allowed bells 
or steeples, 223. 

Ditton's work on Fluxions, 244. 

Did Cassii Hestoria Romana, superb 
copy, contains Llewelyn's book-mark, 
368. 

Doddridge's Lectures, 356. 

Doggett, Simeon, class of 1788, Tutor, 
Commencement oration on death of 
Manning, 500-502. 

Dorrance, John, received degree of A. 
B. in 1774, 261; first Librarian of the 
College, 262; on committee with Man- 
ning in favor of public schools, 463. 

Doty, Samuel, elder in Scotch Plains 
Church, 33, 34. 

Douglass, cases of suffering in reported 
to Warren Association, 166. 

Dracut, birthplace of James M. Varnum, 
93. 



Drake, Nathaniel, lands adjoin farm of 
James Manning, 23. 

Drake, Rebecca, wife of Joseph Fitz Ran- 
dolph, and grandmother of President 
Manning, 23. 

Drake, Samuel, elder in Scotch Plains 
church, 33, 34. 

Drought in 1782, " affecting," Warren 
Association held special prayer meet- 
ing on account of, 339. 

Drowne, Solomon, name mentioned in 
preamble to charter, 535; member of 
committee of Baptist church appointed 
to wait on President Manning, 214. 

Drowne, Solomon, son of above, vale- 
dictorian of class of 1773, 246; brief 
account of, diary, 1770-1773, 151, 246- 
247; further account of, practiced 
medicine, died in 1834, 396; recom- 
mended by Manning to his Jersey 
friends, 335; passenger to London in 
ship Hope, 393; Manning's commenda- 
tion of, 394 ; appointed with Manning 
and others to make out catalogue of 
Library, ^7 ; chosen Fellow in room of 
Doct. Babcock, 348; references to, 407, 
411, 414, 432. See Letters. 

Drowne, Henry T., grandson of Doct. 
Solomon, 247. 

Drowne, Thomas S., class of 1845, grand- 
son of Doct. Solomon, 5, 246. 

Duddingston, Lieutenant, corresponds 
with Governor Wanton in regard to the 
Gaspee, 184; wounded in attack on the 
Gaspee, 185. 

DuMMER, Nathaniel, one of Manning's 
particular friends, probable heir to 
estate of Governor Dummer, 429. 

DuMONT, A. G., of Newport, gave to Dr. 
Sprague the Stiles draft of charter, 525. 

Duncan's Logic, 355. 

Duncan, John, of Haverhill, accompan- 
ied Smith to Providence, 1773, 250. 

Duncan, Samuel W., of Brookline, Bap- 
tist Fellow of the University, 550. 

Dunham, Azariah, Corporator, 536 ; Char- 
ter Trustee, 538. 



572 



INDEX. 



Dunham, Colonel, of Morristown, 327. 

Dunn, Benjamin, one of the actors in 
affair of Gaspee, 185. 

DuNscoMBE, Thomas, on Manning's list 
for honorary degree, 427, 444. 

Durham, Ct., 329. 

DuRFEK, Thomas, class of 1846, delivered 
historical discourse at 250th anniver- 
sary of Providence, 200; Baptist Fel- 
low of the University, 550. 

Dutch, Ebenezer, delivered valedictory 
oration on liberty at Commencement, 
1776, 291. 

DwiGEiT, Gamaliel Lyman, married 
daughter of Judge Howell, 447. 

DwiGHT, Gamaliel Lyman, Jr., great- 
great grandson of Judge Howell, pre- 
sented papers of to the writer, 5, 11, 447. 

Eaele, Joseph P., of New York, Baptist 
Trustee, 550. 

East Greenwich, 44; Baptist Church, Six 
Principle in 1764,73; efforts to secure 
the location of the College, 112 ; argu- 
ments in favor of, 114-115. 

Eastern shore subscribed for location of 
the College in Newport, 119. 

Eastobrook, John and William, extend 
with others call to Manning in behalf 
of Warren church, 51. 

Easton, Jonathan, of Newport, signed 
original petition for charter, 517; Qua- 
ker Fellow, 1770, 550. 

Easton, Nicholas, of Middletown, signed 
original petition for charter, 517 ; Cor- 
liorator,5o6; Charter Trustee, 5.37; Qua- 
ker Trustee, 1770, 549; present at first 
and second meetings of Corporation, 
52, 55. 

Eaton, Joseph, father of Isaac Eaton, 9; 
received degree of A. M.in 1772, 189. 

Eaton, Isaac, Principal of Hopewell 
Academy, distinguished pupils of, brief 
biographical sketch, 9-10; one of the 
founders of the College, 20; name 
omitted in Stiles draft of charter, 520; 
Corporator, 536; Charter Trustee, 538; 



gave charge at Manning's ordination, 
37 ; received degree of A. M. at Com- 
mencement, 1770, 164; preached ordina- 
tion sermon of William Rogers, 60. 
Eaton, David, son of Isaac, married a 

Miss Potts, 90. 
Eaton, Joseph, son of Isaac, member of 
first graduating class, married a Miss 
Turner, practiced medicine, 90-91. 
Eaton, Pamela, daughter of Isaac, mar- 
ried Mr. Humphreys, 90. 
Eddy, Samuel, clase of 1787, Secretary of 
State, Chief Justice, brief biographical 
sketch, 446. 
Edgar, Janet, wife of Enoch Manning, 
sister-in-law of President Manning, 24. 
Edgar, Major, 320. 
Edmonds, Mr., visits Manning, 327. 
Edwards, James, benefactor of the Col- 
lege, received degree of A. M. at First 
Commencement, 84. 
Edwards, Jonathan, President of College 

of New Jersey. 26. 
Edwards. Jonathan, Jr., President of 

Union College, 447. 
Edwards, Morgan, pastor of Baptist 
church, Philadelphia, prime mover in 
the enterprise of founding and endow- 
ing Rhode Island College, sketch of 
character and life, 11-18; account of 
life as given in funeral sermon on 
death of his son Joshua, 14-15 ; remark- 
able new Year's discourse, title given, 
15; recantation of Toryism, 16; name 
omitted in Stiles draft of charter, 520; 
present at sessions of Legislature, per- 
sonal influence, 45; Corporator, 536; 
Charter Fellow, 538; Baptist Fellow, 
1770, 550; present at second annual 
meeting of Corporation, 57 ; inspired 
with renewed confidence in the College, 
offers to go abroad and solicit funds, 
special meeting of Corporation, offer 
accepted, credentials, 69; account of 
his mission in England and Ireland, 70 ; 
original subscription book with gen- 
uine autographs preserved in College 



INDEX. 



573 



Library, 71 ; present at First Com- 
mencement and receives degree of A. 
M.,84; preached sermon in the even- 
ing and thus inaugurated custom of a 
Commencement sermon, 85; appointed 
by Philadelphia Association to receive 
donations for the College, 21 ; writes to 
Manning from London that newspapers 
and letters boasting of American man- 
ufactures hurt him in his work of solic- 
iting funds, 70; writes to Manning in 
regard to his leaving Warren, 141; 
writes to Manning on the opposition of 
Presbyterians, or Congregationalists, 
527-529; when collecting materials for 
Baptist history of Rhode Island accom- 
panied by Moses Brown, 137, 198; his- 
tory of Baptist church. Providence, 197, 
209 ; box of books sent to him from John 
Ryland, 231; attends Conference with 
Manning, Backus, and others, in Car- 
penter's Hall, 1774, 278; calls on Man- 
ning in Philadelphia, and in company 
with him and Samuel Jones, visits Col- 
onel Miles, 325; tarries with Jones, 32G; 
Rippon writes to Manning, " Is it true 
that Morgan Edwards has printed a 
book in vindication of Winchester?" 
375; has not printed, but read to Man- 
ning his manuscript, 378; manuscript 
" Materials towards a History of the 
Baptists in Rhode Island," alluded to 
in letter from Edwards to Manning, 
458; now in the Cabinet of Rhode Is- 
land Historical Society, account of, and 
of other histories, 512-514; histories, 
cited, 11, 19, 47, 90, 109, 129, 241, 514. See 
Letters. 

Edwards, Joshua, son of Morgan, settled 
in New Jersey, died in 1854, 14; pre- 
sented to College Library the original 
book of subscriptions in England and 
Ireland, 71; extracts from funeral ser- 
mon giving account of his father, 14-15. 

Edwards, William, son of Morgan, pupil 
in Manning's Latin School, afterwards 
British officer, 14 ; pronounced a piece 



from Homer at Commencement, 1770, 
165; graduated in class of 1776, 291; 
admitted to a degree by special vote of 
the Corporation, 288. 

Edwards, Morgan, son of Joshua, and 
grandson of Morgan, Baptist evangelist 
in the West, 14. 

Elect Lady, 364. 

Elizabethtown, included Piscataway, 
the birthplace of Manning, 23; chief 
city of New Jersey, College of New Jer- 
sey at first located there, 24, 32G. 

Elizabethtown Point, British troops 
landed at, 318. 

Ellery, William, signer of original peti- 
tion for charter, 517 ; attempted to de- 
feat motion to postpone action on Stiles 
draft, 522; Corporator, 536; Charter 
Trustee, 537 ; present at Warren when 
Corporation met to determine perma- 
nent location, held the Newport papers 
and subscriptions, 123; probable author 
of caustic article in Newport Mercury, 
125; calls on Dr. Stiles to discourse 
about charter for another college, 129; 
appointed to draft address to Congress, 
288 ; reference to, 322, 515. 

Elliot, Mr., of Fairfield, 329. 

Ellis's Life of Anne Hutchinson, cited, 
197, 201. 

Elton, Romeo, remark on dearth of ma- 
terial for life of Manning, 4; editor of 
Literary Remains of President Maxcy, 
448. 

Emerson's course of mathematics, 244. 

Encyclopedia Britannica, 405. 

Enfield, cases of suffering reported to 
Warren Association, 166. 

Episcopalians, erect sumptuous chapels 
in England, 298; favored the King dur- 
ing the War of the Revolution, gener- 
ally Loyalists or Tories, 304; popular 
right of electing Bishops, 409. 

Evans, Abel, received degree of A. M., 
165. 

Evans, Benjamin, popular Baptist minis- 
ter in Cardiganshire, 489. 



574 



INDEX. 



Evans, Caleb, prominent Baptist minis- 
ter in England, subscriber to funds of 
the College, 71 ; received degree of A. 
M. at First Commencement, 84; also 
from King's College, Aberdeen, 475; 
President of Baptist Academy at Bris- 
tol, brief biographical sketch, Manning 
opens correspondence with, 388; en- 
graved portrait in Rippon's Baptist 
Register, 487. See Letters. 

Evans, Hugh, Calvinistic Baptist minis- 
ter in Bristol, subscriber to funds of the 
College, 71 ; received degree of A. M. in 
1770, 165 ; able to read Greek, 245; dona- 
tion of £20 from estate of Dr. Foskett 
through Evans, 264; books and appa- 
ratus solicited from, 389. 

Evans, John, 340. 

Evans, Mrs. W. N., third wife of Morgan 
Edwards, 16. 

Evans's Life of Richards, cited, 61, 362, 
491, 493. 

EwiNG, Doctor, 401. 
.Executive Committee, beginnings of, 58. 

Eyres, Thomas, physician of Newport, 
graduate of Yale, called on Dr. Stiles 
to discourse about the College, 117; 
added to the committee from Philadel- 
phia on affair of the Charter, 519 ; name 
mentioned in preamble, 535; Corpora- 
tor, 536; Charter Fellow, 538; Baptist 
Fellow and Secretary of Corporation, 
1770, 549, 550 ; present at first and sec- 
ond meetings of Corporation, 53, 56; 
present at final meeting to determine 
permanent location, 120; voted in favor 
of Newport, 126; member of committee 
of five to prepare remonstrance to Gen- 
eral Assembly, 132 ; offers to contribute 
towards finishing College edifice, 157: 
received degree of A. M., 247; present 
at meetings of Corporation in 1780 and 
1782, 333, 335. 

Fairchild, burned by the British, July, 
1779, that once beautiful place, ninety- 
six houses burned, 324, 329. 



Falkner, Captain, Manning visits in 
company with Edwards, 325. 

Fame, ardent wish of the human mind, 37ff. 

Farnham, Benjamin, received degree of 
A. M., 261. 

Faunce, William H. P., of New York, 
Baptist Trustee, 550. 

Fawcett, John, Calvinistic Baptist min- 
ister in Yorkshire, able to read Greek, 
245; engraved portrait of in Rippon's 
Baptist Register, 487. 

Federal Constitution, met with opposi- 
tion in most of the thirteen States, 448 ; 
adopted in Massachusetts by a majority 
vote of nineteen, 449 ; seven times 
friends of in Rhode Island moved in 
General Assembly for the calling of 
Special Convention, 447; adopted by a 
vote of thirty-four to thirty-two, 479. 

Federal Convention, Massachusetts, 
account of, Manning present, 448-450; 
Rhode Island, account of, 477-480. 

Federal Government on the eve of dis- 
solution, 440. 

Federal Street, Boston, formerly called 
Long Lane, 450. 

Federalists and Anti-Federalists, 448. 

Fenner, Arthur, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535; contributes 
corn for the destitute, 309. 

Fenner, James, valedictorian of class of 
1789, Governor of Rhode Island, 470. 

Fenner, Samuel, 138, 153. 

Fenning's Arithmetic, 356. 

Ferguson, James, Fellow of Royal Soci- 
ety, author of Introduction to Optics 
and Newton's Philosophy, 233, 244; 
Astronomy, 356. 

Field, John, original member of Baptist 
church, 202. 

FiNLAY, Samuel, President of College of 
New Jersey, 27,32. 

Fish, Joseph, nine sermons examined by 
Backus, 65. 

Fisher, Abiel, biography of Noah Alden, 
cited, 74; of William Williams, 98; of 
Charles Thompson, 101. 



INDEX. 



575 



FlSHKILL, 328. 

FiTZ Randolph, Joseph, grandfather of 
President Manning, 23. 

FiTz Randolph, Grace, daughter of 
Joseph, wife of James Manning, and 
mother of President Manning, 23. 

FiTZ Randolph, Prudence and Rebecca, 
daughters of Joseph, and aunts of Pres- 
ident Manning, 23. 

FiTz Randolph, Ephraim, Jeremiah, 
Paul. Thomas, and Joseph, sons of 
Joseph, and uncles of President Man- 
ning, 24. See Randolph. 

Five per cent, impost, defeated in Gen- 
eral Assembly, 341. 

Flint, Abel, new Tutor, 444; young Con- 
gregationalist ijreacher, attention 
turned to baptism, 473; must be a Bap- 
tist, 476 ; concludes to preach among 
the Congregationalists, 483 ; ordained 
at Hartford, 484, 

FoBES, Perez, of Raynham, Harvard grad- 
uate, appointed Vice-President in Man- 
ning's absence from College, 426; ex- 
tract from funeral sermon on death of 
Manning, 497. 

FoLSOM, Nancy, 161. 

Forensic Dispute on question of Ameri- 
can Independence, 86-87. 

Forsyth's memoirs of Dr. Proudflt, cited, 
447. 

Foster, Benjamin, Yale graduate, Bap- 
tist elder, desired by Warren Associa- 
tion to prepare Catechism and Spell- 
ing-book, 340; requested by Corpora- 
tion to solicit benefactions, 348; likely 
to be called from Newport to New York, 
457 ; Foster and people in New York 
happy and prosperous, 494. 

Foster, Dwight, graduated in class of 
1774, 260; brother of Theodore, distin- 
guished lawyer, member of Congress, 
United States Senator, 262. 

Foster, Henry, Curate to Rev. Mr. Ro- 
maine, recommended by Ryland for 
honors of College, 173. 



Foster, John, of Providence, kept small 
school, 461. 

Foster, Theodore, graduated in class of 
1770, account of, 164 ; received degree of 
A. M. in 1773, 247 ; on committee with 
Manning in favor of public schools, 
463 ; materials for history of Rhode Is- 
land, cited, 202, 208. 

Foster, Mr., Steward, 342. 

Foster's Stephen Hopkins, cited, 85, 136, 
417. 

FosKETT, Bernard, donation to the Col- 
lege from his estate, 264. 

Fought, Mr., 327. 

Fowler, Samuel, signer to original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Fox, Joseph, Quaker, attends conference 
with Baptists in Carpenter's Hall, 1774, 
278. 

Fox's New England Fire Brand 
Quenched, cited, 201, 205. 

France, letter to the King accompany- 
ing address of Corporation, 353-354. 

Franklin, Benjamin, subscriber to funds 
of the College, 71. 

Frank-pledge, by Granville Sharp, 409, 
410. 

Francis, Benjamin, engraved portrait in 
Rippon's Baptist Register, 487. 

Francis, John Brown, grandson of John 
Brown, 184. 

Freedom of conscience. College laws re- 
specting, 266. 

Freeman, Philip, of Boston, represented 
Second Baptist Church at first meeting 
of "Warren Association, 75; appointed 
to present petitions for redress to Gen- 
eral Court of Massachusetts, 78; mem- 
ber of Committee on Grievances, 166, 
238. 

Freemen's meeting in Milford, Ct., 329. 

French Ambassador at West Point, Man- 
ning introduced to, 328. 

French army encamped on lands of Jer- 
emiah Dexter, 341. 

French language and history, King of 



576 



INDEX. 



France petitioned to establish profes- 
sorship of, 350-351, 

French officers in Providence, 353. 

French Revolution astonishes and de- 
lightslCaleb Evans, 475. 

French troops occupied College edifice 
June 25, 1780 to May 27, 1782, 335. 

Freshmen obliged to vv^ait upon Seniors, 
make fires, receive admonitions, and 
denied use of the Library, 30-31, 267, 
270, 272, 358. 

Friends, or Quakers, exempted from Col- 
lege laws, 267 ; meeting-house in Smith- 
field defaced by a College student, 169; 
Society in Providence organized in 1704, 
211. 

Frink, Esquire, 314. 

Fuller, Benjamin, an aged rich Baptist 
minister of England, recommended by 
Ryland for College honors, 174; able to 
read Greek, 245. 

Fulton, James, member of class of 1775, 
signs an address to the Faculty, 286. 

Furman's account of John Gano, cited, 
39. 

Fusileers and Artillery unite and form 
United Train of Artillery, 261. 

Gair, Thomas, of Medfield, clerk of "War- 
ren Association in 1782, 339 ; produced 
£13 for the College at meeting of Asso- 
ciation in 1783, 349. 

Galloway, Joseph, attended conference 
with Baptists in Carpenter's Hall, 1774, 
278. 

Gammell, William, father of Professor 
William, and pupil of William Wil- 
liams at Wrentham, 98. 

Gammell, William, requested by Cor- 
poration to prepare history of Brown 
University, 1 ; member of committee of 
First Baptist Church, 196; article in 
Christian Review, cited, 3; Life of 
Roger Williams, cited, 206 ; Life of Gov- 
ernor Ward, cited, 298; notice of Nich- 
olas Brown, cited, 443. 

Gammell, Robert Ives, son of William, 



Episcopal Trustee of Brown University, 
550. 

Gammell family, sprang on maternal 
side from Mrs. Hope Ives, daughter of 
Nicholas Brown, Sen., 521. 

Gardner, Ezekiel, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535. 

Gardner, Caleb, and James, signers to 
original petition for charter, 517. 

Gardner, Catherine, mother of Deputy 
Governor, and descendant of Obadiah 
Holmes, 43. 

Gardner, Hannah, wife of William 
Rogers, 61. 

Gardner, Joseph, father of Deputy Gov- 
ernor, 43. 

Gardner, John, Deputy Governor, Judge, 
etc., first meeting of Baptists to con- 
sider Manning's motion for a College 
held at his house, 43, 514; brief bio- 
graphical sketch, inscription on his 
tomb, 43-44; location of his house, 64; 
signer to original petition for charter, 
517. 

Gardiner, Nicholas, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535. 

Garth, Brigadier General, 324. 

Gaspee, schooner, first blood of the Rev- 
olution shed in destruction of, 87 ; ac- 
count of the affair, 184-186. 

Gaskill, Francis, of Worcester, Baptist 
Trustee, 550. 

Gang, John, Manning's brother-in-law, 
one of the founders of the College, 20; 
pupil of Isaac Eaton, at Hopewell, 9; 
name omitted in the Stiles draft of 
charter, 520; Corporator, 536; Charter 
Trustee, 538 ; Baptist Trustee, 1770, 549 ; 
appointed by Philadelphia Associa- 
tion to receive donations for the Col- 
lege, 21 ; appointed to address Baptist 
Associations, 22 ; preached Benjamin 
Miller's funeral sermon, 25; preached 
Manning's ordination sermon, 36 ; par- 
ticipated in Manning's ordination servi- 
ces at Warren, 48, 50 ; "one of the great 
lights of the denomination," present at 



INDEX. 



577 



second meeting of Corporation, 58; 
represented Philadelphia Association 
at first meeting of Warren Association, 
75; baptized Hezekiah Smith, 147; re- 
ceives thanks of the Corporation for 
his efforts in behalf of the College in 
Southern Colonies, 158 ; travels in Vir- 
ginia and North Carolina, 176 ; present 
at Corporation meeting in 1774, and also 
at Commencement, urges Backus to 
represent the Baptist churches at the 
Continental Congress, 263, 276; attends 
conference in Carpenter's Hall, 278; 
sufferer from the war, family retired to 
a farm near the Jersey line, 295; living 
in a small log house on a farm belong- 
ing to a refugee Tory, 317; called to 
Philadelphia for one year, children, 
Sally, and Dicky, sick, 326, 227; desig- 
nated by Manning as member of a com- 
mittee to aid poor students, 366 ; moved 
back into New York, Dec. 1, 1783, relig- 
ious work increases under his ministry, 
379, 386 ; has a rich blessing, forty added 
to the church, including two sons and 
a daughter, 403, 404 ; principal instru- 
ment whom God honors in New York, 
413, 432 ; left New York for want of an 
adequate support, 451 ; Manning visits 
to assist him in his removal to Ken- 
tucky, 456 ; kitchen caught fire and con- 
sumed his furniture, "poor, ill-fated 
man," 493; memoirs, cited, 40; bio- 
graphical sketch with portrait, 38-40. 

Gang, Daniel, son of John, graduated in 
1776, 291 ; admitted to degree bj' special 
vote, 288. 

Gang, Stephen, son of John, pastor of 
First Baptist Church, 38; preached 
Elder Joseph Snow's funeral sermon, 
164; brief biographical sketch, 413- 
414. 

Gang, Cornelia, wife of Stephen, daugh- 
ter of Capt. Josiah Vavasor, 414; Polly, 
second wife, daughter of Colonel Tall- 
madge, of New York, 414; Mary, third 
wife, daughter of Joseph Brown, 414; 
73 



Joanna Latting, of Hillsdale, N. Y., 
fourth wife, 414. 

General Assembly, special session con- 
vened April 22d, three days after bat- 
tle of Lexington, 284; held its sessions 
at annual election, 1775, in Providence, 
instead of Newport, 285; repealed, 
May, 1776, act of allegiance to His Maj- 
esty, virtually a declaration of inde- 
pendence, 290; met in Providence sec- 
ond Monday in January; 1790, decided, 
by a single vote, to call a convention 
for adoption of Federal Constitution, 
vote taken on Sunday, 478. See Legis- 
lature, also Rhode Island. 

Georgia, Hezekiah Smith solicits bene- 
factions for the College in, 147, 

Gibbons, Edward, of Boston, sent as 
member of deputation to the church at 
Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 197. 

Gibbons, Thomas, intimate acquaintance 
of President Davies, editor of his ser- 
mons, 26, 432; subscriber to funds of 
the College, 71. 

GiBBS, James, successor of Sir Christo- 
pher Wren, 223; "Designs of Build- 
ings and Ornaments," cited, 223. 

GiBBS, Philip, Calvinistic Baptist minis- 
ter of England, able to read Greek, 245 ; 
engraved portrait of in Rippon's Bap- 
tist Register, 487. 

GiFFGRD, Andrew, subscriber to the funds 
of the College, 71 ; able to read Greek, 
245; "eminent man," death mentioned 
in letter from John Rippon, 412, 418. 

Gilbert, Captain of ship from Provi- 
dence to London, 175. 

Gill, John, recommended Morgan Ed- 
wards to church in Philadelphia, 11 ; 
Edwards studied Divinity under, 14; 
leader among his brethren, and a 
learned commentator, 64 ; subscriber to 
the funds of the College, 71 ; works of 
presented to College Library, 190, 192 ; 
compass of his writing astonishing, 
239; Exposition to be completed, 413; 
Abridgment stopped through scarcity 



578 



INDEX. 



of money, 461 ; pastor of Baptist church 
in London, biographical sketch and list 
of his writings, 419-421. 
Gill, John, son of Dr. Johnj and execu- 
tor, corresponds with Manning with 
reference to his father's publications, 
419. See Letters. 
GiEARD College, Daniel "Webster's 

speech in case of, cited, 533. 
GoDDARD, "William G., wrote memoir of 
Planning, published in American Quar- 
terly Register, 4 ; account of Asa Messer, 
■ cited, 455 ; sketch of James Burrill, 
• cited, 458; memoir of Manning, cited, 
■,9, 67, 144, 434, 496, 508, 533. 
"GoDDARD, "William, Episcopal Trustee 

and Chancellor of the University, 550. 
GoDDARD, Robert H. I., of Providence, 

Episcopal Fellow, 550. 
GoDDARD family, sprang on maternal 
side from Mrs. Hope Ives, daughter of 
Nicholas Brown, Sen. 
GoFF, Charles B., of Providence, Congre- 

gationalist Trustee, 550. 
GoFORTH, Major "William, of Philadel- 
phia, 321, 325. 
Goodrich, Rev. Dr., of Durham, gave 

charge at ordination of Mr. Flint, 484. 
Gordon, "William, commended to Man- 
ning by Dr. Stennett, author of History 
of American Independence, 161, 162, 
175, 428 ; Manning opens correspondence 
with, account of, 433; History presented 
to College Library by the author, 434; 
treated with coolness by his brethren 
in England, 441 ; position of and views 
as the historian of the "War, 465-467. 
Gould Island, 289. 
Gould & Lincoln, publishers of Life and 

Times of Manning, 1, 5. 
Grafton, Joseph, Trustee of Baptist 
Education Fund, 367; settled in New- 
ton in place of Caleb Blood, 554. 
Granger, James N., pastor of First Bap- 
tist Church, 196. 
Grasshoppers in the wheat fields, 318. 
Graves, John, Charter Trustee, 538 ; rec- 



tor of St. John's Episcopal Church, de- 
clined to officiate unless he could read 
prayers for the King, 304. 

Great Meadows, Ct., 329. 

Grenadier Company, Providence, 261. 

Green, Arnold, of Providence, Baptist 
Trustee, 550 ; appeared before Appel- 
late Division of Supreme Court in 
behalf of Corporation, 548. 

Green, Nathaniel, of Coventry, 189. 

Green, Samuel S., of "Worcester, paper 
on Scotch-Irish in America, cited, 71. 

Green, Rev. Thomas, Trustee of Baptist 
Education Fund, 367. 

Greene, Benjamin, member of class of 
1772, 189. 

Greene, Caleb, has set of Gordon's his- 
tory, 467. 

Greene, Christopher, officer in Kentish 
Guards, 95. 

Greene, John, one of the founders of 
Rhode Island, 202. 

Greene, Rev. John, Corporator, 536. 

Greene, John Morley, member of Junior 
Class in 1776, 336. 

Greene, Major-General Nathanael, offi- 
cer of Kentish Guards, 95; signed me- 
morial for East Greenwich in favor of 
the College, 114; receives honorary de- 
gree of A. M., 292; Mr. and Mrs. Man- 
ning dine with at "West Point, 328. 

Greene, Richard "Ward, chairman of 
Committee on Judiciary, and member 
of Corporation, 546. 

Greene, Samuel, signer to original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Greene, Thomas, Quaker Trustee, 1770, 
549 ; present at final meeting of Cor- 
poration to determine location, 121; 
document favoring taxation of the Col- 
lege, 543. 

Greene, "William, signer of memorial 
from East Greenwich in favor of Col- 
lege, elected Governor in 1778, 114. 

Greene's Short History of Rhode Island, 
•cited, 135, 286. 

Greenfield, 329. 



INDEX. 



579 



Greyson, Moses, of England, recom- 
mended by Ryland for College honors, 
174. 

Gridley, Richard, member of Committee 
on Grievances, 166. 

Grievances, proposal and plan to collect 
by Warren Association, 78. 

Grievances, Committee on. See Com- 
mittee. 

Griffith, Abel, represented Philadel- 
phia Association at first meeting of 
Warren Association, 75. 

Griffith, Captain, 317. 

Grisvfold, Bishop, member of St. John's 
Encampment of Knights Templar, 414. 

Groton Baptist Church Six Principle, 
73. 

Guild, Josejih, represented Baptist 
Church, Attleborough, at first meeting 
of Warren Association, 75. 

Guild, Reuben A., succeeded Professor 
Jewett as Librarian, resignation after 
forty-six years of continuous service, 1 : 
Guild and the Manning papers, 4; Life, 
Times and Correspondence of James 
Manning, cited, 35, 36, 210, 527; Docu- 
mentary History of Brown University, 
cited, 109, 137, 209, 236; Chaplain Smith 
and the Baptists, cited, 28, 48, 53, 74; 
Address on Roger Williams as the Pio- 
neer Missionary to the Indians, cited, 
207. 

Guthrie's Geography, 355. 

Hague's Historical Discourse, cited, 198, 
218. 

Haile, Amos, extends with others call 
to Manning to become pastor of the 
Warren church, 50. 

Hale, Edward Everett, centenary dis- 
course on Massachusetts constitution, 
cited, 75. 

Hall, Mr., of Brunswick, 324. 

Hall, Mr., instructor in Bristol Acad- 
emy, 417. 

Hall, Benjamin, signed original petition 
for charter, 517. 



Hall, Robert, of Arnsby, England, 485. 

Hall, Robert, regarded the American 
War as unrighteous, 376; engraved por- 
trait in Ripi^on's Baptist Register, 487 ; 
sermon on death of Ryland, cited, 
495. 

Hall, Silas, class of 1809, writer's obliga- 
tions to acknowledged, 5, 79. 

Hammond's Algebra, 356. 

Hammond, Elnathan, signed original pe- 
tition for charter, 517. 

Hammond, Jonathan, on various commit- 
tees, 153, 154, 220. 

Hammond, Noah, represented Philadel- 
phia Association at first meeting of 
Warren Association, 75. 

Hampstead, Long Island, birthplace of 
Hezekiah Smith, 147. 

Handbills on location of the College cir- 
culated, 118. 

Hann, Isaac, engraved portrait in Rip- 
pon's Baptist Register, 487. 

Hansbrook, Colonel, family agreeable, 
317. 

Harding, Artist, painted portrait of 
Nicholas Brown, 493. 

Harris, David, in town meeting added 
to committee to lay Providence sub- 
scription before Corporation, 118; on 
committte to secure suitable house for 
the President, 142. 

Harris, Joseph, Corporator, 5.36; Charter 
Trustee, 537. 

Harris, Josejih, from Smithfield, mem- 
ber of class of 1772, 189. 

Harris, R., signed Manning's college 
diploma, 32. 

Harris, William, one of the founders of 
Rhode Island, 202. 

Hart, John, signer of the Declaration of 
Independence, 20, 320, .325. 

Hart, John, son of Rev. Oliver, subject 
of college discipline, 252; graduated at 
Commencement, 1776, 291 ; admitted to 
College honors by special vote, 288. 

Hart, Joseph, of the Executive Council 
of Philadelphia, 322. 



580 



INDEX. 



Hart, Nicholas, Jr., signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Hart, Oliver, pupil of Isaac Eaton, at 
Hopewell, 9; founder of Charleston 
Baptist Association and Religious Soci- 
ety, 27 ; writes to Manning on death of 
President Davies, 27; invites Manning 
to become assistant pastor at Charles- 
ton, 37; receives honorary degree at 
First Conamencement, 84; appointed to 
address Baptist Associations in behalf 
of the College, 22. See Letters. 

Hartford Convention of 1779, reference 
to, 323. 

Harvard College, controlled by Con- 
gregationalists, 20; boasts of her Dr. 
Woodbridge, 59; early graduates ar- 
ranged in Catalogue according to social 
position and not alphabetically, 89-90; 
disturbances at in 1768, 94 ; funds in- 
creased by lotteries, 187; conferred de- 
gree of D. D. on President Maxcy, 447; 
also on President Messer, 456. 

Harvey, Mr., 402. 

Hathorn, Colonel, 318, 327. 

Hawkins, "William, member of the War- 
ren church, 202. 

Hazard, Ebenezer, classmate of Man- 
ning, 35. 

Hazard, George, of Newport, Corporator, 
536; Charter Trustee, 537; Episcopal 
Trustee, 1770, 549; present at final 
meeting to determine permanent loca- 
tion of the College, 121 ; votes in favor 
of Newport, 126. 

Hazard, Thomas, Corporator, 536 ; Char- 
ter Fellow, 538. 

Hazard, Joseph, Judge of Supreme Court 
in case of Trevett vs. Weeden, 96. 

Hazard, Rowland, of Peacedale, Congre- 
gationalist Fellow, 550; oration at lay- 
ing of corner stone of State House, 
cited, 452. 

Hazard, Rowland G., of Peacedale, Con- 
gregationalist Trustee, 550. 

Headley's Chaplains and Clergy of the 
Revolution, cited, 39. 



Hearse, imported from England by 
Charitable Baptist Society, used for 
first time at Manning's funeral, 496; al- 
lusion to in Fobes's funeral sermon, 
497. 

Heiresses, inheritances of, should be sub- 
ject to limitations, 408. 

Helme, James, of South Kingstown, Con- 
gregationalist Trustee, 1770, 549 ; present 
at final meeting to determine perma- 
nent location of the College, 121 ; voted 
in favor of Newport, 126. 

Henry, Patrick, hearer and admirer of 
President DaAaes, 26; opposed to Fed- 
eral Constitution, 448. 

Hessians in Rhode Island, General Var- 
num addressed letter to chief ofiicer of, 
95. 

Hextell, William, successor to Dr. Dod- 
dridge, recommended by Ryland for 
honors of the College, 174. 

HiBBiNS, Mr., member of deputation from 
Boston to church in Portsmouth, 197. 

Higher Criticism, so-called. Manning 
would not have favored, 271-72. 

Hinds, Ebenezer, participated in services 
at ordination of Manning, 48; one of 
the four illustrious names that united 
i_. forming Warren Association, 74; 
represented Second Church in Middle- 
borough at first meeting, 75 ; preached 
sermon at ordination of Charles Thomp- 
son, 100; present at meeting of Warren 
Association in Providence, 3.39. 

Hitchcock, Enos, Fellow of the College, 
on committee with Manning and Brown 
to correspond with David Howell, 419; 
on committee with Manning in favor of 
public schools, 463; preached sermon 
at ordination of Tutor Flint, 484; ap- 
pointed chairman of committee to con- 
dole with Mrs. Manning on death of 
the President, 495; conducted funeral 
solemnities of Manning, 496. 

Hrx, Samuel, extends with others call to 
Manning to become pastor of Warren 
church, 50. 



INDEX. 



581 



HoBBS, Elizabeth, left legacy for educa- 
tion of youth for the ministry, 21. 

HoGLAND, Colonel, 324. 

HoLDEN, Charles, signed memorial from 
East Greenwich, 114. 

HoLLiMAN, Ezekiel, one of the founders 
of Rhode Island, 202; original member 
of Baptist church, 203; appointed by 
his brethren to baptize Roger Williams, 
account of, 19i>-200. 

HoLLiMAN, Mary, wife of Ezekiel, and 
widow of Isaac Sweet, excluded from 
Salem church, 200, 203. 

HoLLis, Thomas, subscriber to funds of 
the College, 71. 

HoLLis, Timothy, also a subscriber, 71. 

HoLLis family, benefactors of Harvard 
College, account of, 160, 369. 

Holmes, John, name mentioned in pre- 
amble to Charter, 535. 

Holmes, Molly, 319. 

Holmes's Life of Dr. Stiles, cited, 310, 
518. 

HoLROYD, "William, manager of lottery 
for the new meeting-house, 222; signed 
letter to Manning requesting him to 
preach, 472. 

Holyoke, President of Harvard College, 
94. 

Honeyman, James, of Newport, Corpo- 
rator, 536; Charter Trustee, 537; Episco- 
pal Trustee, 1770, 549; present at first 
and second meetings of Corporation, 
52,54. 

Honors conferred like grace from 
Heaven, •" unthought of, unimplored," 
232. 

Hooper, Henry N., recast bell of Baptist 
meeting-house, 224. 

Hope College, erected in 1822, presented 
to the University by Nicholas Brown, 
named for his only surviving sister, 
Mrs. Hope Ives, wife of Thomas Poyn- 
ton, 442, 521. 

Hope Furnace Co. recast second bell of 
Baptist meeting-house, 223, 224. 

Hope Island, 289. 



Hope, ship for London belonging to 
Brown Brothers, 393, 412. 

Hopewell, Manning visits in 1779, 320, 
324. 

Hopewell Academy, founded by Phila- 
delphia Association, Isaac Eaton, Prin- 
cipal, account of, 9. 10,20. 

Hopewell Church, Mrs. Hobbs left leg- 
acy to, 21. 

Hopkins, Esek, nominated Manning to 
represent Rhode Island in Congress of 
Confederation, 425. 

Hopkins, John B., one of the actors in the 
affair of the Gaspee, 183. 

Hopkins, Samuel, pastor of First Con- 
gregational Church, in Newport, 
founder of new school of theology, 116 ; 
church aided by lotteries, 187. 

Hopkins, Stephen, Corporator, 536; Char- 
ter Trustee, 537; Quaker Trustee and 
Chancellor, 1770, 549; chosen Chancel- 
lor at first meeting of Corporation, 53; 
present at second meeting, .")4-55 : in- 
strumental in establishing Providence 
Gazette, probable author of account of 
First Commencement, 85; chairman of 
committee to draft instructions and 
prepare model of college building in 
Warren, 110-111 ; chairman of commit- 
tee to carry on the building in Provi- 
dence, 114; moderator of town meeting 
called to consider plan for locating 
the College in Providence, 118 ; present 
at final meeting of Corporation to de- 
termine upon permanent location, 121; 
offered arguments in favor of Provi- 
dence, 124; summary as Chancellor of 
the case of the two rival claimants for 
the location, 126-128; chairman of com- 
mittee of five to prepare, present, and 
enforce remonstrance to General As- 
sembly, 132 ; chairman of the Building 
Committee of College edifice, 139, 140, 
150; chairman of committee to confer 
with Manning in regard to soliciting 
funds in Europe, 190; his statements 
in regard to formation of Baptist church 



582 



INDEX. 



entitled to weight, 204; appointed by- 
General Assembly, June, 1774, delegate 
to first Continental Congress, 260; mem- 
ber of Society of Friends, 267; attended 
conference with Baptists in Carpenter's 
Hall, 278; present at raeetings of Cor- 
poration in 1780 and 1782, 333, 335 ; ap- 
pointed with Manning to make out cat- 
alogue of Library, 347 ; signed as Chan- 
cellor petition to King of France, 351; 
received degree of LL. D. in 1784, 382 ; 
death announced, "one of the greatest 
men our country has reared," Man- 
ning's account of, 415^17 ; Rights of 
Colonies examined, cited, 136; Plant- 
ing and Growth of Providence, cited, 
197, 202, 203. 

Hopkins, Thomas, one of the founders of 
Providence, ancestor of Stephen, 197, 
202. 

HoRR, George E., of Boston, Baptist Fel- 
low, 550. 

Houston, Mr., delegate to Congress of the 
Confederation from Georgia, threatened 
Manning with violence, 425. 

HovEY, Alvah, of Newton Centre, Bap- 
tist Fellow, 550, memoirs of Backus, 
cited, 278. 

Howard, Miss A., engaged to Captain 
Bell, Manning writes letter of sympa- 
thy to, 300. See Letters. 

Howard, James L., of Hartford, Baptist 
T.rustee, 550. 

Howard, Martin, signed original petition 
for Charter, 517. 

Howard, William, of Foster, voted nay 
on question of adopting Federal Con- 
stitution, 479. 

Howe, Solomon, member of Committee 
of Warren Association to prepare Cate- 
chism and Spelling Book, 340. 

Howell, father of Judge Howell, in low 
state of health, 349. 

Howell, Corlis, mother of Judge Howell, 
349. 

Howell, David, pupil of Isaac Eaton at 



Hopewell Academy, 10 ; describes Man- 
ning in his youth, 31 ; Senior at College 
of New Jersey in 1766, receives invita- 
tion from Manning to come to Warren, 
66 ; associated with Manning as Tutor, 
Professor, and member of Board of Fel- 
lows, biographical sketch with portrait, 
67-68; extract from Corporation records 
respecting, various titles and positions, 
68; received degree of A. M. at First 
Commencement, 84; sketch of origin of 
the College among his papers, 11 ; Judge 
of Supreme Court in case of Trevett vs. 
Weeden, 96 ; unmarried and boarded on 
coming with the College to Providence, 
143; accompanied Hezekiah Smith on 
journey to New Jersey, attended Com- 
mencement at Yale and received degree 
of A. M., 189 ; on committee to draft 
charter for Charitable Baptist Society, 
221 ; pajser on file giving number of Col- 
lege students, cited, 293; resigns his 
position as Professor of Philosophy, 
311; i?resentat meeting of Corporation 
in 1780, 3.33 ; agreed upon by members of 
Corjioration as the proper person to 
preside over the College during Man- 
ning's proposed absence in Europe, 
348; on committee with Manning to 
form digest of College laws, 355 ; chosen 
to go to Europe and solicit funds, not 
able to goon the plan proposed, 386; 
Manning writes him playful letter, 
hopes he will be "good natured, unan- 
imous, and attentive to public busi- 
ness," 397; member of Congress, and 
had great influence until he opposed 
Impost measure, 431 ; on committee 
with Manning in favor of public schools, 
463; signed letter to Manning asking 
him to preach, 472 ; signed as Secretary 
of the Corporation address to Wash- 
ington, 481 ; charge to graduates in 1791 
published in Ripj^on's Baptist Register, 
487 ; extract from obituary notice of 
Manning, 503-504; penned inscription 



INDEX. 



583 



upon the stone erected by the Corpora- 
tion to the memory of Manning, 50i- 
505. See Letters. 

Howell, Jeremiah, son of Judge Howell, 
does not make rapid progress in lan- 
guage, 347 ; Mr. Wilkinson speaks favor- 
ably of his proficiency in Greek, 397 ; 
graduates in class of 1789, afterwards 
United States Senator, 470. 

Howell, Waitstill, daughter of Judge 
Howell, and wife of Ebeuezer Knight 
Dexter, 68. 

Howell, Elias, member of class of 1772, 
relative of Judge Howell, 189. 

HowLAND, John, published sketch of 
Manning in Rhode Island Literary Repos- 
itory, 3; presented petition to General 
Assembly in 1800 for four public schools, 
463; memoir of Manning, cited, 141, 
308; Life and Recollections, cited, 143, 
163, 211, 224, 285, 310, 449. 

HoxsEY, Gideon, name mentioned in pre- 
amble to Charter, 535. 

HoYT, Colgate, of New York, Baptist 
Trustee, 550. 

HuBBEL, Lieutenant, 327. 

HuBBEL, Esquire, of Stratford, 329. 

Hudson's Life of Jemima "Wilkinson, 
cited, 363. 

Hunt, Asa, spent several months in Vir- 
ginia, 451. 

Hunter, William, describes Manning's 
bulk and graceful gestures, 31. 

Hunting, Mr., 329. 

HuRDER, Robert, of Brunswick, 326. 

Hutchinson, Aaron, of Grafton, instruc- 
tor of William Rogers, 59. 

Hutchinson, Anne, 197, 201. 

Hutchinson's Moral Philosophy, 355. 

Impost of five per cent., 351. 

Imposition of Hands, not regarded as es- 
sential in covenant of Warren church, 
50; William Rogers received the ordi- 
nance of, 60. See Laying on of 
Hands. 

Independence, American, advocated at 



First Commencement of the College, 

86-87. 
Indian slaves enlisted as soldiers, 313. 
Indian tribes commence hostilities on 

the Western frontier, 438. 
Infant Baptism, controversial letter on, 

to Rev. John Berridge, 302-307. 
Ireland, Edwards's first subscriptions 

for the College obtained in, 71. 
IvERs, Thomas, passenger in sloop Sally 

for Charleston, 148. 
Ives, Thomas P., chairman of committee 

to erect building for grammar school, 52. 
Ives, Hope, wife of Thomas P. and daugh- 
ter of Nicholas Brown, Sen., 225, 442, 

521. 
Ives family sprang on maternal side from 

Mrs. Hope Ives, 521. 

Jackson, at the Forge, 327. 

James, Samuel, Calvinistic Baptist min- 
ister of England, received degree of 
A. M. in 1770, 165, 245. 

James, Thomas, one of the founders of 
Rhode Island, 202. 

Jefferson, Thomas, letter to Rhode Is- 
land delegates in Congress respecting 
petition to King of France, 352-353. 
See Letters. 

Jenckes, Joseph, ancestor of the Jenckes 
family, 520. 

Jenckes, Joseph, Jr., Governor of the 
Colony, 520. 

Jenckes, Nathaniel, brother of the above, 
leader of the military forces of the Col- 
ony, 520. 

Jenckes, William, brother of the above. 
Chief Justice, 520. 

Jenckes, Ebenezer, brother of the above, 
elder of the Baptist church, father of 
Judge Daniel, 210, 520. 

Jenckes, Judge Daniel, son of Ebenezer, 
name not raentioned in original petition 
for charter, 517; opposed granting of the 
Stiles Charter, 517-518 ; Stiles draft 
delivered to by General Assembly 
on request, 522 ; name mentioned in 



584 



INDEX. 



preamble to Charter finally granted, 
535 ; Corporator, 536 ; Charter Trustee, 
537 ; Baptist Trustee, 1770, 549 ; Jenckes's 
history of the Charter as given in Mor- 
gan Edwards's manuscript materials 
for history of the Baptists in Rhode Is- 
land, 521-523; present at first meeting 
of the Corporation, 52; present at 
second meeting, one of the most influ- 
ential men of Providence, 57; present 
at final meeting to determine perma- 
nent location of the College, 121 ; Rep- 
resentative to General Assembly in 
1770, 129 ; member of committee to pre- 
sent and enforce Remonstrance of Cor- 
poration, 132; chairman of committee 
appointed by Baptist church to wait 
on Manning upon his arrival at Provi- 
dence, 214; moderator of church meet- 
ing that appointed Manning to preach 
and administer cogimunion, 217 ; died 
in 1774, biographical sketch, 520-521. 

Jenckes, John, son of Judge Daniel, in 
town meeting, added to committee to 
lay Providence subscriptions before 
Corporation, 118 ; on committee to fix 
upon suitable place for College edifice, 
113, 136 ; member of Building Commit- 
tee, 139, 150; edifice set on the hill oppo- 
site his house, 151; chairman of com- 
mittee to procure oak timber for new 
meeting-house, 220; chairman of Stand- 
ing Committee of eleven, 221; manager 
of lottery, 222; member of Committee 
of Inspection during the War, 283; ap- 
pointed Trustee in place of his father, 
deceased, 263; present at meeting of 
Corporation in 1780, 333; baptized by 
Manning, present at meeting in 1782, 
335; has set of Gordon's history, 467; 
signed letter to Manning requesting 
him to preach, 472; sickness of, Man- 
ning writes, "our dear friend almost 
gone," 483; notice of decease, 493, 

Jenckes, Rhoda, daughter of Judge 
Daniel, wife of Nicholas Brown, and 
mother of Hon. Nicholas Brown, and 



Mrs. Hope Ives, wife of Thomas Poyn- 
ton Ives, 521. 

Jenckes, Joseph, prosecuted his studies 
during the War, admitted to degree of 
A. B., 336. 

Jenckes, Jonathan, married to Avidow 
Bowers, 444. 

Jenkins, Josejih, Calvinistic Baptistmin- 
ister of England, 245. 

Jennings, James, of England, recom- 
mended by Ryland for College honors, 
174. 

Jennings, Andrew, of Fall River, Bap- 
tist Trustee, 549. 

Jewett, Charles C, Librarian of 53rown 
University, Guild his successor, 1. 

Jews, children of admitted to College 
without restraint, 150. 

Johnson, Dr., of Ct., member of Congress 
of Confederation, complimented Man- 
ning as a ready writer, 426. 

Johnson, J. B., Trustee of Union College, 
objected to Maxcy as candidate for 
President, 447. 

Johnson's Universal Cyclopaedia, article 
on Baptist history at variance with ac- 
knowledged facts, 198. 

Johnston, formerly part of Providence, 
incorporated in 1759, 212. 

Jones, Mr., of Connecticut, 314. 

Jones, Alexander, prosecuted his studies 
during the War, admitted to degree of 
A. B., 336. 

Jones, David, pupil of Isaac Eaton, at 
Hopewell, 9 ; missionary to the Indians, 
193; receiveddegreeof A.M.,261; Chap- 
lain in the American Army, 319. 

Jones, Horatio Gates, writer's obligations 
to acknowledged, 5. 

Jones, Jenkin, early pastor of Baptist 
church, Philadelphia, 14. 

Jones, John, 331. 

Jones, Morgan, Calvinistic Baptist min- 
ister of England, 245. 

Jones, Robert Strettle, name omitted in 
Stiles draft of Charter, 520 ; Corporator, 
536 ; Charter Trustee, 538 ; accompanied 



INDEX. 



585 



Sanrnel Jones to Newport on affair of 
the Charter, 519; received degree of 
A. M. at First Commencement, 84; 
reference to, 322. 
Jokes, Samuel, pupil of Isaac Eaton at 
Hopewell, 9; one of the founders of the 
College, 20; name omitted in the Stiles 
draft of charter, 520; Corporator, 536; 
Charter Fellow, 538; sent to Newport 
by Philadeliihia Association on affair 
of the Charter, happilj' drafted present 
Charter, 519; represented Philadelphia 
Association at meeting of Warren As- 
sociation, remodeled Dr. Stiles's draft, 
first choice of members of Corporation 
to succeed Manning, 78 ; received degree 
of A. M, at First Commencement, 84 ; 
attends conference of Baptists in Car- 
penter's Hall, 278 ; visits Colonel Miles 
in company with Manning and Ed- 
wards, 15, 325; Manning's references to 
in diary, 323, 325, 326; Manning's inti- 
mate friend, educator of youth, one of 
the master spirits of Philadeliahia Asso- 
ciation, Judge Howell writes to by re- 
quest of members of Corporation, on 
decease of Manning, with view to the 
Presidency of the College, 321, 499; 
brief biographical sketch, 321. See 
Letters. 

Jones, Timothy, Salutatorian of Class of 
1774, 260. 

JuDsoN, Edward, of New York, Baptist 
Trustee, 549. 

Kaimes's Elements of Criticism, 355. 

Kane, Henry, executor of estate of Ben- 
jamin Wallin, 421. 

Reach's Singing an Ordinance of Christ, 
cited, 215. 

Keane, Robert, founder of Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery Comjiany, 197. 

Keen, William W., of Philadelphia, Bap- 
tist Fellow, 550. 

Keith, George, bookseller in London, 
died in 1782, John Gill, executor, 242, 



420; executor of estate of Rev. Dr. Gill, 
192. 

Kellen, William V., of Boston, Baptist 
Trustee, 550. 

Kelly, Erasmus, received degree in 1772, 
189. 

Kennedy's Chronology, 356. 

Kentish Guards, James M. Varnum, 
Commander of, 95. 

Kentucky, first settled by Baptists, des- 
titute of books, ministers illiterate, 
Manning's plan to educate, God doing 
wonders in, 403, 405-406, 415. 

King of France, petition to from Corpo- 
ration, to establish professorship of 
French language in the College, 350-.351. 

King, David, President for thirty years 
of Newport Historical Society, possessor 
of Stiles manuscript of charter for 
another college, i;34. 

King's "Mother Church," cited, 198. 

Kingsbury, John, Secretary of Corpora- 
tion, member of committee of five on 
subject of taxation, 546. 

Kingsley's Life of Dr. Stiles, cited, 515. 

KiNZiE, James, attends conference with 
Baptists in Carpenter's Hall, 278. 

Kirbright's buildings, ruins of, 323, 324. 

Knight's London Illustrated, cited, 223. 

Knight's Six Principle BaptistSj cited, 
42, 72, 479. 

Knowles's Memoir of Roger Williams, 
cited, 203,206, 210, 511. 

Knox, General, at We.st Point, 328, 410. 

KoLLOCK, Lemuel, of South Carolina, 
Valedictorian of Class of 1786, 442. 

Laing, Benjamin, lands of, adjoining farm 
of James Manning, 23. 

Laing, Christiana, wife of James Man- 
ning, and grandmother of President 
Manning, 23. 

Lamb, Charles, playful remark on Car- 
lyle's Book of Job, 434. 

Lambert, Nathaniel, oration at Com- 
mencement of 1787, 446. 



74 



586 



IJsTDEX. 



Landed possessions, views of Granville 
Sharp on, and also upon uncultivated 
lands in America, 408. 

Lapham, Oscar, of Providence, Episcopal 
Trustee, 550. 

Latin, students not allowed to speak to 
one another except in, 270, 357 ; Man- 
ning's efforts to have Baptist ministers 
of education engage in teaching, 311. 

Latin Broadsides, account of at First 
Commencement, 88-89. 

Latin Salutatory, copy of President 
Manning's in his own hand writing in 
the writer's possession, 32; copy of 
Richard Stites's at First Commence- 
ment, with the other orations, pre- 
served, 93. 

Latin School, or Hopewell Academy, 
founded by Philadelphia Association, 
8; begun in Providence in 1766 by Ben- 
jamin Stelle, 10; Manning opens one 
in "Warren with a view to College in- 
struction, now the University Grammar 
School, history of , 51-52; described by 
Backus in letter to Dr. Gill, 65 ; in 1766 
flourishing, 69; in charge of Manning 
at Providence, for a long time con- 
nected with the College, in 1810 Corpo- 
ration erected brick building for its use, 
188 ; still under the care of Manning, 
taught by a graduate, 243; a grammar 
master (1783) keeps school in the Col- 
lege edifice, 367 ; removed next year to 
the Brick School House, taught by Wil- 
liam Wilkinson, account of, 387-388; in 
1794 Corporation voted, that the Presi- 
dent use his influence to establish a 
Grammar School as an appendage to 
the College, 387. 

Latting, Joanna, fourth wife of Stephen 
Gano, 414. 

Law, Andrew, member of class of 1775, 
became prominent clergyman, 286, 288. 

Lawrence, Deacon, Manning visits, 327. 

La WRENS, Professor, of Philadelphia, 323. 

Laws and Customs. See College. 

Laying on of Hands, practiced by the 



Scotch Plains Church, and by all the 
Baptist churches in Rhode Island when 
Manning founded church in Warren, 
50; occasion of controversy in Baptist 
church. Providence, controversy agita- 
ted anew in 1732, 208-210. See Six Prin- 
ciple Baptists. Also Imposition op 
Hands. 

Learned, Asa, associated with William 
Wilkinson as an instructor, 387. 

Ledoyt, Bial, Elder, .311 ; present at meet- 
ing of Warren Association in Provi- 
dence, 339. 

Lee, Mr., of Connecticut, 314. 

Legislature of Rhode Island, a more in- 
famous set of men under the character 
of a Legislature never disgraced the 
annals of the world, 444 ; our rulers are 
deliberately wicked, 456 ; if they knew 
how foreigners look upon them they 
would blush, 459. See also General 
Assembly. 

Leland, Ebenezer, 155. 

Leland, Thomas, tutor to Rev. Augustus 
Toplady, 232. 

Lemon, Richard, from Baltimore, 326; 
letter respecting Manning and the Col- 
lege, 340. 

Leonard, Oliver B., writer's grateful ac- 
knowledgments to for particulars re- 
specting Manning's family, 23. 

Leonidas, signature to a paper severely 
handling Congress, 322. 

Letters from James Manning to John 
Berridge, 302; Abraham Booth, 256, 
393, 431, 473 ; Committee of Senior Class, 
286; Corporation of the College, 345; 
Moses Brown, 309; Nicholas Brown, 
119; Caleb Evans, 388, 404, 4.30; John 
Gill, 420, 422 ; William Gordon, 435; A. 
Howard, 300; David Howell, 66, 341, 
347, 396, 400, 418; Henry Kane, 359; 
Thomas Lapham, 128; Thomas Lle- 
welyn, 181, 368; Thomas Mackaness, 
402; Jeremiah Manning, 335, 426; Na- 
than Miller, 439, 440 ; John Rippon, 377, 
396, 412, 427 ; John Ryland, 171, 186, 191, 



INDEX. 



587 



241, 253, 257, 204, 360; John Eyland, Jr., 
395; Granville Sharp, 40!1: Hezekiah 
Smith, 121, 170, 236, 385, 387, 435, 444, 
451,455,460,470,482,493; Samuel Sten- 
nett, 159, 175, 193, 363; Margaret Stites, 
34; Thomas Ustick, 263, 310, 381, 398, 
454 ; Benjamin Wallin, 238, 254, 257, 296 ; 
Isaac Woodman, 235. 

Letters to James Manning from mem- 
bers of Baptist church, 472 ; Abraham 
Booth, 393, 474, 484; Morgan Edwards, 
141,458,527; Caleb Evans, 391, 417,459, 
475; John Gill, 420, 421, 423; William 
Gordon, 440, 465; Oliver Hart, 27, 37, 
149, 252; William Richards, 488; John 
Rippon, 373, 453, 485 ; John Ryland, 172, 
230,243; Granville Sharp, 407; Samuel 
Stennett, 161, 362; Benjamin Wallin, 
239, 298; Isaac Woodman, 233. 

Letters Miscellaneous, Isaac Backus 
to John Gill, 64; Isaac Backus to John 
Rippon, 499 ; George Bancroft to Reuben 
A. Guild, 529; Moses Brown to Francis 
Wayland, 137 ; Nicholas Brown to Hez- 
ekiah Smith, 183, 430,443 ; David Howell 
to Stephen Hopkins, 311; David Howell 
to Samuel Jones, 498; Richard Lemon 
to Robert Carter, 340; Letter in New- 
port Mercury respecting location of the 
College, 124; William B. Sprague to 
Reuben A. Guild, 525, 526 ; Samuel Still- 
man to Hezekiah Smith, 498; Charles 
H. Wyatt to Reuben A. Guild, 135. 

Lewis the Little, and Washington the 
Great, 482. 

Lexington, battle of, news reached Prov- 
idence in two days, one thousand mili- 
tia ready to march at once, 284; like an 
electric stroke, put a stop to revival of 
religion, 294. 

Liberty, British armed sloop, boarded 
by a mob, dismantled, etc., 87. 

Library, removed to Wrenthara during 
the War, 98; consists (in 1772) of two 
hundred and fifty volumes, and those 
not well chosen, 181 ; receives from ex- 
ecutors of estate of Dr. Gill his works 



and fifty-two folio volumes of the Fa- 
thers, 190-192; John Brown's liberal 
offer respecting, 347; College laws re- 
specting in 1783, 357-359; classification 
of the first manuscript catologue, .358; 
seven hundred pounds subscribed for 
books and philosophical apparatus, Li- 
brary consists (1783) of about five hun- 
dred volumes, most of which are very 
ancient, and very useless, as well as 
A^ery ragged and unsightly, 365 ; one of 
these unsightly volumes Roger Wil- 
liams's copy of Eliot's Indian Bible, 
366; catalogue made out with great 
care, attention, and labor by Manning, 
385; sent to Caleb Evans, 388; fourteen 
hundred volumes ordered from Lon- 
don, a donation from John Brown, 389; 
Library now consists (1785) of two thou- 
sand volumes, 411 ; kept in chamber on 
second floor of College edifice, addi- 
tional regulations respecting, students 
to come to, four at a time, when sent 
for, preservation and not circulation 
the leading consideration, 411-412; do- 
nation from Bristol Education Society 
per Caleb Evans, 417; Nicholas Brown 
commenced his benefactions by pre- 
senting five hundred volumes of law 
books, 442 ; receives a bequest in 1818 
of thirteen hundred volumes from Wil- 
liam Richards, of Lynn, England, 492. 

Light Infantry Company, of Providence, 
291 ; incorporated in 1774, 261. 

Lincoln, James S., Providence artist, 
l>ainted portrait of Manning from the 
original, 506. 

Lillibridge, Mr., accompanied Mrs. 
Manning from Newport to Warren, 48. 

LiNDS, Moses, Jewish merchant of 
Charleston, subscribed twenty pounds 
for the College, 150. 

Lindsay, Captain of the packet Hannah, 
184. 

LiNDSEY, B., of Connecticut, .314. 

Lippitt, Moses, member of committee to 
erect Grammar School building, 52. 



588 



INDEX. 



Litchfield, Joseph, graduated in class 
of 1773, 247. 

Litchfield, Connecticut, 316. 

LiTTLEFiELD, Majoi, at West Point, 328. 

LiTTLEHALE, Jamcs and Abraham, 154. 

Livingston, George, residence at Eliza- 
bethtown, 318. 

Llewelyn, Thomas, Morgan Edwards 
studied Divinity under, 14; subscribed 
£31 10s, for the College, 71; Corporation 
voted him thanks for donation of a pair 
of globes, 69; good friend of Manning, 
162 ; Baptist Trustee for management of 
Dr. Moore's Indian college funds, 163; 
member of Baptist Committee to act in 
conjunction with agent of Warren As- 
sociation to procure redress, etc., 166; 
friendship for the College satisfactory, 
176; distinguished Cambro- British 
scholar of London, Manning opens cor- 
respondence with, 181 ; brief notice of, 
Manning writes to him a second time 
urging him to patronize the College 
and give it his name, 368-370; "Lle- 
welyn College" appears well when 
written, and sounds no less agreeably 
when spoken, 369; Sub-librarian of the 
British Museum, 418. 

Location of the College, account of the 
contest for, 108-144; final vote of the 
Corporation, "that the said edifice be 
built in the town of Providence, and 
there be continued forever," 121. 

Locke on the Understanding, 356. 

Logan, William, Corporator, 536; Charter 
Fellow, 538, 

Longfellow, sings of Priscilla MuUins 
and John Alden, 446. 

LoNGiNus on the Sublime, 355. 

Long Lane, Boston, now called Federal 
Street, 450. 

Lossings's Field Book of the Revolution, 
cited, 321, 324. 

Lottery to defray expense of building 
parsonage in Warren, 72; to defray ex- 
pense of building new meeting-house 
in Providence, 222; account of lotteries 



in Rhode Island and elsewhere, 72, 221- 
222; Ryland's view concerning in reply 
to Manning's query, 187, 232. 

Love's Surveying, 356. 

Lowth's Vernacular Grammar, .3.55. 

Loyalists, or Tories, generally of the 
Episcopal faith, .304. 

LucAR, Mark, came over from England 
with Roger Williams in 1644, 199; bap- 
tized with John Clarke in Seekonk 
River, 207. 

LuDDiNGTON, Coloncl, 328. 

Ludlow, Mrs. Peter, daughter of Dr. 
Gano, presented Manning's portfolio of 
correspondence to Library, 4. 

Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, annual 
meeting of Philadelphia Association 
held in, when establishment of a Col- 
lege was decided upon, 18. 

Lyman, Mr., of New Haven, 329. 

Lyndon, Josias, present at first meeting 
of Baptists in Newport to consider 
Manning's plan for a College in Rhode 
Island, appointed a committee to drav/^ 
up a charter, 43-^4, 514; signer to orig- 
inal petition, 517; Corporator, 536; 
Charter Trustee, 538; Baptist Trustee 
in 1770, 549; present at first and second 
meetings of Corporation, 52, 57 ; present 
at final meeting to determine location, 
121 ; voted in favor of Newport, 126. 

Lyndon, Samuel, signed original petition 
for charter, 517. 

Lyon, Emory, Principal of University 
Grammar School, 52. 

Lyon's Farms, Manning preaches at, 319, 
326. 

McClellan, William, prosecutes his 
studies during the War, admitted to 
degree of A. B., 336. 

Macclure, David, made concluding 
prayer at Tutor Flint's ordination, 484. 

McDuGAL, General Commander of Fort 
Arnold, West Point, 328. 

Mackaness, Thomas, merchant of Lon- 
don, 294, 297. 



INDEX. 



589 



McKiM, John, member of Baptist church, 
Philadelphia, 384. 

KcKiMS from Baltimore, 326. 

Maclaurin's work on Fluxions, 244. 

Maclean, Ex-President of College of 
New Jersey, history cited, 25, 26. 

McMaster's History, cited, 450. 

McNeil Building, Westminster Street, 
southern part owned by College, and 
taxed by City Assessors, 548. 

Maidstone, sloop-of-war, burnt in public 
square, Newport, 86. 

Malcom, Charles H., instrumental in lo- 
cating Stiles draft of charter, 525. 

Manning, Jeffrey, one of the earliest set- 
tlers of the Piscataway township, great- 
grandfather of President Manning, 23. 

Manning, James, grandfather of Presi- 
dent Manning, 23. 

Manning, James, son of James and Chris- 
tiana (Laing) Manning, and father of 
President Manning, 23 

Manning, Grace, daughter of Joseph and 
Rebecca (Drake) Fitz Randolph, and 
mother of President Manning, 23. 

Manning, children of James and Chris- 
tiana (Laing) Manning, as mentioned 
in will, 1750, 23,24. 

Manning, children of James and Grace 
(Fitz Randolph) Manning, parents of 
President Manning, 24. 

Manning, James, son of James and Grace 
Manning, one of seven children, 24; 
birth, parentage, and family, 22; first 
pupil of Isaac Eaton at Hopewell Acad- 
emy, 9; thoroughly instructed in the 
rudiments of knowledge, becomes the 
subject of renewing grace, 24; baptized 
at the age of twenty, enters the Fresh- 
man Class at College of New Jersey, 
now Princeton University, 25; account 
of his instructors, 27 ; student life, dis- 
tinguished in his youth for skill in 
athletics, gracefulness, and immense 
bulk in mature years, 31 ; classmates in 
College, 31; graduates in 1762 with the 
Latin Salutatory, parchment for his 



Bachelor's degree preserved, 32; es- 
teemed a suitable leader in the work of 
founding a Baptist college, 21 ; trial of 
his ministerial gifts before Scotch 
Plains Church, December, 1762,33; li- 
censed to preach Feb. 6, 1763, married 
March 23d following, 34; marriage a 
source of great domestic felicity, no 
children, wife professed religion in 
1775, 36; ordained and set apart as a 
preacher and evangelist, April 19, 1763, 
36 ; travels in Virginia and North Caro- 
lina, 42, 176; invited by Oliver Hart to 
settle in Charleston as assistant pas- 
tor, 37 ; journey to Halifax, on his way 
stops at Newport and makes the motion 
for a Baptist college in Rhode Island, 
43; present at the several sessions of 
the Legislature which finally granted 
the Charter, personal influence, 44-45; 
name omitted in the Stiles draft, 520; 
Corporator, 5.36 ; Charter Fellow, 538 ; 
personal narrative of efforts to establish 
the College and secure Charter, 514- 
516, 517-519; receives a call dated Feb. 
17, 1763, to come and settle among the 
people at Warren, accepts, and at once 
opens Latin School with a view to Col- 
lege instruction, 48 ; Baptist church or- 
ganized, and he becomes the pastor, 
50-51 ; present at first meeting of the 
Corporation. 52 ; at second meeting in 
1765, chosen President of the College, 
53 ; designated by Backus as one of the 
three liberally educated Baptist min- 
isters in New England, 64; instrumen- 
tal in founding the Warren Associa- 
tion, author of sentiments, plan, and 
circular letter, connection through life 
with both the Warren and the Philadel- 
phia Associations, 72-80; chairman of 
committee to fix upon suitable place for 
College edifice, 113; favors Providence 
for the location, 117 ; spirited anony- 
mous letter to Nicholas Brown on the 
question of location, 119-120; present at 
the final meeting which determined the 



590 



INDEX. 



location, 120; writes to his friend and 
classmate, Hezekiah Smith, then get- 
ting subscriptions for the College in 
South Carolina, giving an account of 
the contest between Providence and 
Newport, 121-123; called a "wolf in 
sheep's clothing," by a disappointed 
citizen of Newport, in a caustic news- 
paper article, 125; member of commit- 
tee of five to prepare remonstrance to 
General Assembly against granting 
Charter for another college, 132 ; chair- 
man of committee to prepare complete 
model of proposed building, Nassau 
Hall, at Princeton, taken for model, 
140; prayerfully considers the sunder- 
ing of his connection with the church 
in Warren in order to go with the Col- 
lege to Providence, 140; leaves War- 
ren May 4, 1770, and begins the College 
at Providence, 143; gives Eight Hand 
of Fellowship at ordination of Samuel 
Shepard, 161; constrained to forego 
ease and worldly advantage in dis- 
charge of official duties, way strewn 
with thorns, 175, 178-179; took no part 
in ordination of Charles Thompson, his 
successor at Warren, church displeased 
on account of his leaving them to go 
with the College, 100; still has charge 
of the Latin School, advertises in Prov- 
idence Gazette, 1?>^; temporary absence 
from the College suggested in order to 
solicit donations abroad, 190; salary 
from church and College in 1771 
amounted to five hundred dollars, be- 
sides use of President's house and the 
emoluments of his school, 191 ; invited 
to preach and administer communion 
for Baptist Church in Providence, suc- 
ceeds Elder Winsor as pastor, 213-217 ; 
revival of religion as a result of his min- 
istry, 218 ; moderator of meetings of the 
Society in reference to a new meeting- 
house, 219-220; chairman of committee 
to draft Charter for Charitable Baptist 
Society, 221, 226; preaches dedication 



sermon on opening of the new house. 
May 28, 1775, 223; discouraged from 
going abroad to solicit funds, 234 
preached in seven Congregationalist 
meeting-houses in Connecticut, 237 
makes a tour in Connecticut accom^ 
panied by Solomon Drowne, 247 
charge to the graduating class of 1773 
in full, 247-249; Adsits churches in Mas- 
sachusetts and Connecticut during va- 
cation, memoranda of journey, 251-252; 
in his discipline not unmindful of the 
rod, 252; wonders how men by human 
laws can establish a religion and have 
the effrontery to call it Christ's king- 
dom, 254; sick for several months with 
little hope of recovery, 258 ; a believer 
with the Master in "Moses and the 
Prophets,'' 271; attends with Backus 
the Conference with Continental Con- 
gress, opens the Conference with speech 
and reads memorial, 278; communi- 
cates with class of 1775 respecting Com- 
mencement, 286-287 ; publishes notice 
of suspension of College studies on ac- 
count of the War, 293 ; hears in Virginia 
the celebrated Fristoe, and returns 
home to preach with renewed zeal, ac- 
count of remarkable revival which fol- 
lowed his preaching in 1774 and 1775, 
296-297 ; his position as a pastor and 
political leader during the War, in- 
stances of his humane disposition and 
ability to discharge civil functions, re- 
pairs to Connecticut and obtains aid for 
the distressed in Rhode Island, letter 
to Moses Brown concerning, 307-310; 
obtains from General Sullivan an order 
of reprieve for three men sentenced to 
death, 308; anecdote of, respecting the 
Dark Day, 310; sets out on a journey to 
the Jerseys, April 29, 1779, journal of, 
314-331 ; visits West Point on his re- 
turn, 327-328; proposes to revive Col- 
lege instruction, and ordered by the 
Corporation "to begin," 333; present 
at meeting of Warren Association held 



INDEX. 



591 



for the first time in Providence, Sep- 
tember, 1782, 339; attends meeting of 
Philadelphia Association in October 
following, and represents condition of 
the College and its jiressing needs, 
obliged to teach three classes himself 
on a salary of £80, 340; still entertains 
the idea of going abroad and soliciting 
donations for the College, 342; offers 
his services to the Corporation in a 
memorial address, Jan. 27, 1783, address 
in full, 345-346; appointed to make out 
Catalogue of the Library, 347 ; appointed 
with Dr. Stillman and Dr. Waterhouse 
to draft address and petition to the 
King of France for his patronage of 
the College, requested by the Corpora- 
tion to solicit benefactions in the Mid- 
dle States, .348; remark made concern- 
ing by a distinguished foreigner present 
at Commencement, "natalis priesid- 
ere," born to preside, 350; chairman 
of committee to form digest of College 
laws, 355; discipline " mild and peace- 
ful," 359; devises plan to aid poor stu- 
dents similar to modern system of 
scholarships, 3G6; before the "War kept 
small assortment of books imported 
yearly from London, 368; never in one 
instance doubted the justice of the 
American cause, 379; attended meeting 
of Warren Association in Middlebor- 
ough, 380; jirominent in the affair of 
Elhanan Winchester and Baptist 
church, 384; appointed to solicit dona- 
tions for the College in the New Eng- 
land States, writes letters on the sub- 
ject to Samuel Stennett and others in 
England, 386 ; oppressed with number- 
less and varied cares, amusing letter 
from Doct. Waterhouse respecting, 392; 
conscious of his want of qualifications 
for the honor of a D. D., at best but an 
empty sound, 399; received the degree 
from University of Pennsylvania in 
1785, through influence of Thomas Us- 
tick, parchment in the writer's posses- 



sion, 400 ; still on the hill at Providence 
overwhelmed with cares, at times al- 
most decided to visit England, 402 ; 
philanthropic efforts to secure for the 
Baptist churches an educated ministry, 
406 ; can command but little time for 
reading, 412 ; aids in ordaining to the 
ministry Stephen Gano, in New York, 
413; conceives a plan for furnishing 
illiterate Baptist ministers in Ken- 
tucky with books, correspondence on 
the subject, 403, 405-406, 415; appointed 
by General Assembly to represent 
Rhode Island in Congress of the Con- 
federation, Asher Robbins's account of 
his appointment, 425-426; master of all 
important questions debated in Con- 
gress, complimented by Dr. Jackson, 
of Connecticut, for his readiness and 
skill as a writer, 426 ; in his correspond- 
ence gives reason why he entered Con- 
gress, desires to recover sum due the 
College for rent and damages during 
the war, appointment only for six 
months, 428, 431; always deemed the 
pastoral care of the church incompati- 
ble with College engagements, yet he 
preached, administered the ordinances, 
visited the sick, attended funerals, 
etc., for fifteen years, 428; his idea of a 
successor, " a man of letters, politeness, 
strict piety, and orthodoxy, of popular 
talents, possessed of a good share of 
human prudence, and no bigot," 428- 
429: not able to attend the duties of 
both a pastor and President, 430; writes 
to Hezekiah Smith suggesting him as 
his successor in the ministry at Provi- 
dence, 435; fully comprehended the 
great political questions of his day, 439; 
returns from Congress early in Novem- 
ber, 1786, 443 ; seized with violent fit of 
bilious colic, life threatened, 444; ar- 
rearages of tuition due, sick, with no 
wood at the door, very few provisions 
in the cellar, and not a dollar of money 
at command, has serious thoughts of 



592 



INDEX. 



removing to the farm at the Jerseys, 
most trying period in his whole life, 
444-445; something Godlike in preach- 
ing to the poor without recorapense, 
445 ; anxious for the ratification of the 
Federal Constitution, attends upon the 
debates and proceedings of the Massa- 
chusetts Convention, called upon by 
GoA'ernor Hancock to "close the sol- 
emn convocation with thanksgiving 
and prayer," extraordinary impression 
produced by his devotion and elo- 
quence, adoption of the Constitution in 
Rhode Island largely due to his wise 
counsels and superior influence, 449- 
452; Dr. Kippon's correspondence, "in 
a remote period, when the public prints 
announce that Dr. Manning ivas, may 
it be said, " He shone through a lo7ig- 
lengthened day, the ornament and boast 
of all his connections, and then set, 
like the sun, to rise and shine forever," 
453 ; efforts in behalf of popular educa- 
tion, chairman of school committee, 
final report in favor of free public 
schools, pronounced by Henry Barnard 
one of the best reports of the kind ex- 
tant, 461-463; chairman of committee 
appointed in town meeting to draft pe- 
tition to Congress, petition in full, 468- 
469 ; charge to graduating class at Com- 
mencement of 1789, 470-472; conspicu- 
ously active in efforts to secure a Con- 
vention for the adoption of Federal 
Constitution, 470; had thoughts of pub- 
lishing an essay on the Kingdom of 
Christ, 473; writes to Hezekiah Smith 
respecting a revival under his preach- 
ing, from fifty to one hundred under 
serious impressions, 476; address to 
"Washington on his visit to the College, 
Thursday, Aug. 19, 1790, 480-481 ; resigns 
his pastoral office, preaches his farewell 
sermon to the church, April, 1791, 494; 
makes request in writing for a meeting 
of Charitable Baptist Society, stating 
that it would probably be his last re- 



quest, notifies the Corporation, April 
13th, to look out for a successor, singu- 
lar presentiment of approaching mor- 
tality, seized with fit of apoplexy Sab- 
bath morning, July 24, 1791, died Friday 
evening, 495; account of funeral, held 
Saturday, July 30, the day after his de- 
cease, most numerous and respectable 
ever attended in town, hearse used for 
the first time in Providence, 496; re- 
mains rest in North Burial Ground by 
the side of his friend, Nicholas Brown, 
496; death announced to Hezekiah 
Smith by Samuel Stillman, 498; to 
Samuel Jones by David Howell, 498- 
499; to John Rippon by Isaac'Backus, 
499; to John Rippon by Solomon 
Drowne, 499-500; Simeon Doggett's 
Commencement oration on death of> 
500-502 ; object of detraction, being a 
strong Federalist and an acknowledged 
leader among the despised Baptists, 
502; particulars relating to his personal 
appearance, habits, character, and in- 
fluence, as given by Judge Howell in 
his obituary notice, 503-504; Howell's 
inscription upon the stone erected to 
his memory by the Trustees and Fel- 
lows of the College, 605; summary of 
his life and of the early history of the 
College, 506-509; account of Manning's 
portrait, painted by Cosmo Alexander, 
in 1770, when he was thirty-two years 
old, 485, 487, 500, 505-506 ; bequeathed to 
Brown University in 1815 by his widow, 
36. See Letters. Also College, Col- 
lege Laws, Commencement, Corpora- 
tion. 
Manning, Margaret, daughter of John 
Stites, Esquire, of Connecticut Farms, 
Elizabethtown, and wife of President 
Manning, parentage, family, and mar- 
riage, 34-36; Manning corresponded 
Avith while a student, 34 ; baptized by 
her husband, 297 ; sailed June 27, 1784, 
to enjoy last interview Avith "her dear 
mamma," 387; confined six months by 



INDEX. 



593 



bilious sickness, restored to health, 
385, 399; died in 1815, bequeaths her 
husband's portrait to Brown Univer- 
sity, 36 ; her own portrait bequeathed 
to Brown University by Maria Bene- 
dict, a niece of Mrs. Eliza B. Rogers, 
36. 

Manning, Christiana, sister of President 
Manning, married Joseph Tingley, 
24. 

Manning, Enoch, brother of President 
Manning, married Janet Edgar, 24; 
died in February, 1791, 494. 

Manning, James, nephew of President 
Manning, and son of Jeremiah, 326, 387 ; 
has Latin Salutatory at Commencement 
of 1786, 427, 442. 

Manning, Jeremiah, brother of President 
Manning, lived in Bonham and Borden- 
town, 24, 319, 320, 326. 

Manning, John, brother of President 
Manning, married Sarah Van Pelt, 24, 
326. 

Manning, John, cousin of President Man- 
ning, died in February, 1791, 494. 

Manning, Joseph, brother of President 
Manning, Ruling Elder in Scotch Plains 
Church, 24,319, 324, 326 ; wife of Joseph, 
319. 

Manning, Benjamin, 320, 324. 

Manning, William, 319. 

Manning Hall, erected by Nicholas 
Brown in 1835, and named in honor of 
his distinguished instructor and revered 
President, 442. 

Mann, Benjamin, Representative from 
Providence to General Assemblj', 133; 
l^aid for setting glass in Mr. Snow's 
meeting-house, 152, 155. 

Mann, Horace, married daughter of Asa 
Messer, 455. 

Mann, Jacob, received degree of A. B. in 
1774,261. 

Mann, John Preston, had Latin Saluta- 
tory at Commencement of 1776, 291 ; be- 
came distinguished physician, settled 
in Newport, 292. 
75 



Marchant, Henry, appointed to draft ad- 
dress to Congress, 288. 

Marietta, Ohio, town where General 
Varnum died, 97. 

Marlow, Isaac, controversy on singing, 
cited, 215. 

Marsh,, Joseph, his daughter wife of "Wil- 
liam Rogers, 63. 

Martin, Baptist minister of London, bit- 
ter enemy of the Americans, 441. 

Martin, David, signed letter to Manning 
requesting him to preach, 472. 

Martin, Jacob, 320. 

Martin on the Globes, Trigonometry, 
Philosophica Britannica, 356. 

Mason, Benjamin, signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Mason, Eugene W., of Providence, Con- 
gregational Trustee, 550. 

Mason, Jonathan, of Boston, 402, 467. 

Mason, Reuben, pupil of Manning's 
Latin School, 52. 

Mason, Elder Job, of Swansea, 217. 

Mason, Russell, name omitted in Stiles 
draft of Charter, 520; Corporator, 536 ; 
Charter Trustee, 538; Baptist Trustee 
in 1770, 549; present at final meeting to 
determine i)ermanent location of the 
College, 121; voted in favor of Provi- 
dence, 126. 

Masonic Fraternity, Stephen Gano an 
honored member of, 414; William 
Rogers a member, 61. 

Massachusetts State Convention of 1780, 
Noah Alden a delegate, chairman of a 
committee of seven that framed the 
famous Bill of Rights, 74; Edward 
Everett Hale's Centenary of, cited, 75; 
laws of relating to "Anabaptists" 
given in full in "Chaplain Smith and 
the Baptists," 79; Bill of Rights 
amended in 1834, and soul liberty se- 
cured, 279; Convention for the adop- 
tion of the Federal Constitution met 
Jan. 9, 1787, in session nearly a month, 
three hundred and fifty-five delegates, 
Constitution adopted by a majority vote 



594 



INDEX. 



of ninteen, 448-449; Manning attended 
upon its proceedings, regarding Massa- 
cliusetts as " the hinge on which the 
whole must turn," 452. See Committee 
ON Grievances, Warren Association. 

Massachusetts Historical Society, pre- 
serves in its archives report of com- 
mittee sent by Boston church to church 
in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 197. 

Massachusetts Magazine for 1789, cited, 
226. 

Mawney, John, one of the actors in affair 
of the Gaspee, 185. 

Maxcy, Jonathan, pupil of "William "Wil- 
liams at Wrenthaui Academy, 98; vale- 
dictorian of the class of 1787, Tutor, 
Professor, and President, brief bio- 
graphical sketch, 447^48; youngest 
Tutor, about twenty-one, has lately 
found Christ and been baptized (Dec. 
25, 1789), 473; has been called and li- 
censed, much indisposed, ill with the 
measles, 476; talks of leaving College, 
consented with great reluctance to sup- 
ply Manning's pulpit for six months, 
does it to great acceptance, improves 
amazingly, 483; people have chosen 
him for their minister, resigned his 
Tutorship and accepted pastorate of 
the church, gives very general satisfac- 
tion, 494; preached Manning's funeral 
sermon, 497 ; Trustee of Baj^tist Edvica- 
tion Fund, 367. 

Maxson, John, pastor of Seventh Day 
Baptist Church, Newport, 46; Corpora- 
tor, 536; Charter Trustee, 538; Baptist 
Trustee, 1770, 549; present at first and 
second meetings of Corjioration, 52, 57; 
present at final meeting to determine 
permanent location of the College, 121; 
voted in favor of Providence, 126. 

Meacham, Joseph, of Enfield, appointed 
to receive well-attested grievances, 
78. 

Meeting Street Brick School House, 
place where the College held its ses- 
.sions on removal from Warren, 143. 



Mendon, Baptists there oppressed with 
ministerial taxes, 250. 

Merchant, Mr., 323. 

Mesnard, Captain Thomas, 377,485, 

Messer, Asa, fitted for College by Heze- 
kiah Smith, admitted into the Sopho- 
more Class in June, 1788, biographical 
sketch. Tutor, Professor, President, 
455^56; graduates at Commencement 
of 1790, 482 ; Manning writes to Smith 
respecting, 493; corresponds as Presi- 
ident of the University with William 
Richards, of Lynn, England, 492. 

MiDDLETON, Ct., 329. 

Miflin, Thomas, attends Conference 
with the Baptists in Carpenter's Hall, 
278 ; threatened with banishment to 
New York, 323. 

Miles, Samuel, chairman of Committee 
of Safety, concealed Morgan Edwards 
at his house. Manning, Jones, and Ed- 
wards visit, 15, 325 ; member of Baptist 
church in Philadeli>hia, signed address 
respecting Elhanan Winchester, 384. 

Miles, John, founder of Baptist church 
in Swansea, 47. 

MiLFORD, 329. 

Military companies of Providence in 
1774 and 1775, 261. 

Miller, Andrew, bookseller, 244. 

Miller, Benjamin, pastor of ScotchPlains 
Church, baptized Manning in 1758, 25, 
33, 34; died in 1781, 344; references to 
319, 324, 326, 327. 

Miller, Daniel, represented Cumberland 
Church at first meeting of Warren As- 
sociation, 75. 

Miller, General Nathan, of Warren, 
daughter married William Williams, 
97 ; on committee to purchase materials 
for College building in Warren, 110; 
Manning's colleague in Congress, 329. 
See Letters. 

Miller, Samuel, pupil of Manning's 
Latin School, 52. 

Mills, The, eleven miles from Provi- 
dence, 189. 



INDEX. 



595 



Milton, John, speech for the Liberty of 
Unlicensed Printing, cited, 116. 

Moderation, spirit of prevails, 411. 

Money, so scarce that people of property 
cannot pay their taxes, 390; scarcity of, 
and difficulty of making remittances to 
Great Britain, 422; scarcity of in this 
country exceeds description, 4.31. 

Monopolizers, Forestallers, and En- 
grossers, 322. 

Montague, cases of suffering from op- 
pression reporte<l to Warren Associa- 
tion, 1G6. 

Montague, Admiral, corresponds with 
Governor Wanton in regard to affair of 
the Gaspee, ISi. 

Montague, Richard, of Sunderland, ap- 
pointed to receive well attested griev- 
ances, 78. 

Montague, Tommy, a flaming young 
preacher sent oiit from Baptist church 
in New York, " outshines us all," 457. 

Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws, cited, 264. 

Moore, David, .signed original jjctition 
for Charter, 517. 

MooRE, Dr., scheme for a college for the 
Indians, 163, 177. 

MooRE, Dr., of Bordentown, 324. 

Morehouse, Colonel, 316. 

Morgan, Abel, Inspector of Hopewell 
Academy, 0; one of the founders of 
Rhode Island College, 20; received de- 
gree of A. M. at First Commencement, 
84. 

Morgan, Captain, landlord, 316, 319. 

MoRRiCE, Robert, original owner of part 
of College lot, 138. 

Morris, Colonel, at West Point, Manning 
dines with, 328. 

Morris, Mr., 325. 

Morris, Robert, and other leading mer- 
chants of Philadelphia, refuse to con- 
form to regulation of prices, 323. 

MORRISTOWN, -326. 

Moulders, of Philadelphia, .322, 323, 326. 

Mount Tom, a tremendou.s precipice, 
316. 



Mount Vernon Lodge, Dr. Gano a mem- 
ber of, 414. 

MuLLETT, Thomas, brother-in-law of 
Caleb Evans, merchant of first respec- 
tability, interview with General Wash- 
ington at Mount Vernon, 362 ; Mr. and 
Mrs. Mullett commended to attentions 
of Manning, 459 ; references to, 363, 368, 
390, 404, 405. 

Mullins, Priscilla, 446. 

MuMFORD, Gideon, appointed to draft 
address to Congress, 288. 

MuMFORD, Paul, Chief Justice of Supreme 
Court, 96. 

MuMFORD, Paul, signed petition for Char- 
ter, 517. 

Murray, John, alias Murjihy, propagates 
doctrine of James Relly and universal 
salvation, 343, 363. 

Nash, Jacob, graduated in class of 1773, 
247. 

Nash, Joseph, added to town meeting to 
lay before Corporation Providence sub- 
scriptions, 118. 

Nash, Samuel, graduated in class of 1770, 
164; received degree of A. M. in 1773, 
247. 

Nassau Hall, Princeton, one of the finest 
structures of the kind in the country, 
26, 27 ; selected as the model of the Col- 
lege building now called University 
Hall, 122, 140. 

Negroes enlisted as soldiers, 313. 

Nelson, Rev. Mr., pleasing account from, 
of matters at Haverhill, 122. 

New Brunswick, seat of Rutgers College, 
24. 

New England Clergy, inveterate enmity 
of towards the College, 192-193. 

New England Primer, 340. 

New Hampshire, ratified the Federal 
Constitution by a majority of eleven, 
448. 

New Haven, burning of a part of by the 
British, 324; sacked by the enemy, 
329. 



596 



INDEX. 



New London, Baptist Church Six Princi- 
ple in 1764, 73. 

New Winsor, 328. 

New York, adopted Federal Constitu- 
tion by a bare majority of three, after 
Convention had been in session more 
than a month, 448. 

New York Recorder, Dr. Cutting's arti- 
cle on the denominational character of 
the College, cited, 514-515. 

Newbold, Caleb, 493. 

Newburgh, peace proclaimed at, 39, 
328. 

Newport, not settled until May 1, 1639, 
197 ; Manning's arrival at, on his mis- 
sion in behalf of the College, 43,514; 
one of the three Baptist churches in 
Six Principle, 73; Academy in, taught 
by William Rogers, 60 ; claims of for the 
permanent location of the College ad- 
vocated and discussed, 113; main oppo- 
sition to the College in the beginning 
came from Congregationalists in, 117; 
some of the Newport members of the 
Corporation in favor of Providence, 
120; Newport claimants moved for 
another College to be located in their 
town, 129; prosperous condition of in 
1770, 135-136; Second Congregational • 
Church incorporated in 1771, 228; 
richest men in Newport generally Loy- 
alists when the war began, 285; re- 
duced to a deplorable state on account 
of the War, 289; resolution of City 
Council, March 4, 1862, instructing their 
State Senator to procure from the Leg- 
islature a repeal of so much of the Col- 
lege Charter as exempted the President 
and Professors from taxation, 545. 

Newport Mercury, advertisement re- 
specting father of William Rogers, 64; 
vehicle for the expression of disloyal 
sentiments, 85; article in favor of a 
College, cited, 117; caustic letter in re- 
specting final vote of the Corporation 
on location of the College, 124; article 
of March 12, 1770, giving account of the 



affair of another college to be located in 
Newport, 129-131. 

Newton, James, colleague of Caleb 
Evans, recommended for college honors, 
245, 417 ; Manning promises Evans an 
honorary degree for, 430. 

Newton, John, Curate of Olney, recom- 
mended by Ryland for college honors, 
173. 

Nichols, Jonathan, signed original peti- 
tion for Charter, 517. 

Nightingale, Colonel of the Company of 
Cadets, 260, 315. 

Nightingale, Samuel, borrowed tbe 
Stiles Charter, 522. 

Niles, Jeremiah, Corporator, 536; Char- 
ter Trustee, 538. 

NoN Importation Agreements entered 
into after Stamp Act, 86. 

Norcott's work on Baptism, cited, 161. 

North Carolina, progress of the Gospel 
there and in Virginia, thousands con- 
verted and baptized, 176 ; adopted Fed- 
eral Constitution in November, 1789, 
leaving Rhode Island alone in her 
glory, 477. 

North Fairfield, 329. 

North Kingstown, Baptist Church Six 
Principle in 1764, 73. 

Northwestern Territory, General Var- 
num appointed by Congress one of the 
Judges of, 96. 

NoRWALK, Connecticut, burned by the 
British, 324. 

NuNN, Mary, of Cork, Ireland, wife of 
Morgan Edwards, 12. 

Oats, two quarts six shillings, 317. 
Oliver, Mr., member of deputation from 

Boston church to church in Portsmouth, 

Rhode Island, 197. 
Olney, Captain, at West Point, 328. 
Olney, Richard, of Boston, Congrega- 

tionalist Fellow, 550. 
Olney, Thomas, one of the founders of 

Rhode Island, 202 ; one of the original 

members of the Baptist church, ex- 



INDEX. 



597 



eluded from the Salem Church, 203; 
Elder in the church, 208; withdrew 
with others in 1654, on account of Lay- 
ing on of Hands, and formed a "Five 
Point Baptist Church," 204, 209. 

Oppressions of the Baptists by the Stand- 
ing Order, Manning's efforts to resist, 
276-280. 

Oratorial Art, subject of the first val- 
edictory address, 102. 

Oratory prominent in the early teaching 
of the College, first professorship one 
of " Oratory and Belles-lettres," 102. 

Order of Exercises at Commencements, 
complete set preserved in College Li- 
brary, 89. 

Osgood, Howard, paper on the "Higher 
Criticism," cited, 272. 

Otis, Jonathan, signed original petition 
for Charter, 517. 

Otis, Major, 329. 

OoLTON, John, Calvinistic Baptist Min- 
ister of England, 245. 

Owen, Mr., married Lizzy Burden, 317, 
327. 

Packard, Henry C, donor of clock for 
First Baptist meeting-house, 224. 

Padelford, Philip, graduate in class of 
1773, 247. 

Page, Benjamin, one of the actors in 
affair of the Gaspee, 185. 

Paget, Henry, 154. 

Paine, Robert Treat, attends Conference 
with Baptists in Carpenter's Hall, 278. 

Paley's Political Philosophy, cited, 75. 

Paper Money, made a legal tender, 
greatly depreciated in value, financial 
embarrassments of the country in con- 
sequence of, 313, 322 ; policy of will 
never make a State prosper, 441 ; run 
down to six for one in Rhode Island, 
444 ; distress in Rhode Island great in 
consequence of a miserable paper cur- 
rency, farms sold for one-quarter their 
value, 445. 

Parchment for Manning's degree of A. 



B., 32; parchment, or diploma, for Wil- 
liam "Williams's degree of A. B., 99; 
parchment for Manning's honorary de- 
gree of D. D., 400. 

Park, Edwards A., of Andover, Congre- 
gationalist Fellow, 1863-1896, 550; Me- 
moir of Dr. Hopkins, cited, 187; ac- 
count of Asa Messer, 4.56. 

Parker, Isaiah, Trustee of Baptist Edu- 
cation Fund, 367. 

Parker, Sir Peter, landed body of six 
thousand troops in Newport and took 
po.ssession of the town, 293. 

Parsonage house for Manning in War- 
ren, 48. 

Patience Island, 289. 

Patten, William S., member committee 
of five on question of taxation, 546. 

Patterson, Esquire, 328. 

Peace Treaty between United States and 
Great Britain, news of in Providence, 
service of thanksgiving in Baptist 
meeting-house, 371-372. 

Peale, Rembrandt, painted portrait of 
William Rogers, 63. 

Pearce, Daniel, proclaimed by beat of 
drum the Gaspee was grounded, 184. 

Pearce, Preserved, signed the memorial 
from East Greenwich in favor of the 
College, 114. 

Pearce, Samuel, engraved jiortrait in 
Rippon's Register, 487. 

Pease, Simon, of Newport, Corporator, 
536; Charter Trustee,. 537; Baptist Trus- 
tee, 1770, 549 ; present at first and second 
meetings of Corporation, 52, 57. 

Pedobaptists, prejudices of against the 
Baptists greatly abated since the War, 
379; again taxing Baptists in Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut, 380; put 
three of Mr. Thomas Green's people in 
Cambridge in jail, 398. See Congrega- 
tionalists, Presbyterians, Standing 
Order. 

Pelot, Francis, appointed to address 
Baptist Associations in behalf of the 
College, 22. 



598 



INDEX. 



Pemberton, Israel, and James, Quakers, 
attended Conference with Baptists in 
Carjienter's Hall, 278; charged by Dr. 
Stiles with abusing members of Con- 
gress, 280. 

Penn, Thomas, subscribed £20 for the 
College, 71. 

Pennepek, 321, 326. 

Pennsylvania Gazette, cited, 32. 

Periam, Joseph, classmate of Manning, 
32. 

Perkins, Nathan, gave Right Hand of 
Fellowship at ordination of Tutor Flint, 
484. 

Peters, Hugh,i:)astorof church in Salem, 
200; letter to church at Dorchester giv- 
ing notice of exclusion of Roger Wil- 
liams, and others, 203-204. 

Petition for Charter presented to General 
Assembly, August, 17G3, ,516-517. 

Philadelphia, riot in 1779in consequence 
of attempts to regulate prices, 323; 
Baptist church and Elhanan Winches- 
ter, 382-384. 

Philadelphia Association, oldest Bap- 
tist Association in America, Brown 
University owes its origin to, 7; min- 
utes first printed by Morgan Edwards, 
12 ; minutes from 1707 to 1807 ; edited 
by Dr. Gillette, published in one vol- 
ume, 18; annual meeting in 1762, Mor- 
gan Edwards, Moderator, who makes 
motion for the establishment of a Bap- 
tist College, beginnings of Brown Uni- 
versity found in connection with the 
Association, 18-20; extracts from the 
minutes relating to the College, 21-22 ; 
plan for raising funds for che College, 
22; Manning attends the Association 
in 1782, represents the condition of the 
College and its pressing needs, letter 
from Richard Lemon respecting, 340; 
Manning in his narrative of the College 
states that "application was made to 
the Philadelphia Association where the 
thing took its rise," 519; extract from 
Circular Letter of the Association al- 



luding to the death of Manning, 502- 
503. 

Philbrick, James, and Elizabeth his wife, 
161. 

Philips's Tavern, Litchfield, 316. 

Pierce's history of Harvard College, 
cited, 160. 

Piscataway, birthplace of Manning, part 
of the " Elizabethtown Grant," 23, 324; 
remarkable meeting at, multitudes af- 
fected, many conversions, 435. 

Pitman, Rev. Mr., 324. 

Pitman's Alumni Address, cited, 83-264. 

Plimpton, Nathan, member of Commit- 
tee on Grievances, 166. 

PoLSiPER, Hannah, 161. 

Pond, Enoch, graduated in class of 1777, 
his copy of College laws in 1774, pre- 
served, 264. 

Popular Education, Manning's efforts 
in behalf of, chairman of special com- 
mittee, his report best of the kind ex- 
tant, 461-463. 

Porter, William, minister in England, 
recommended by Ryland for honors of 
the College, 174. 

Portsmouth, near Newport, settled in 
spring of 1638, 196. 

Postage on letter to Philadelphia three 
or four shillings, 398. 

Potter, Elisha R., of South Kingstown, 
report presented to General Assembly, 
entitled " Right of a Legislature to 
grant a perpetual exemption from tax- 
ation," 545-546. 

Potter, Robert, signed original petition 
for Charter, 517. 

Potter, Thomas, name mentioned in 
preamble, 535. 

Power, Nicholas, one of the managers of 
a lottery for new Baptist meeting-house, 
222. 

PoYNTiNG, John, Baptist minister of Eng- 
land, recommended by Ryland for 
honors of the College, 174, 245. 

Presbyterian Lane leading up to the Col- 
lege edifice, 151; 



INDEX. 



599 



Presbyterians, Baptists of New Hamp- 
shire obliged to pay Presbyterian min- 
isters, 171; mean to monopolize and 
gain an establishment in Kentucky, 
405 ; in the Jerseys opening their houses 
to the Baptists, 483; attempted with 
William EUery to defeat a motion to 
postpone action on the Stiles draft of a 
Charter, 522; ojiposition to the Charter 
and the College as stated by Morgan 
Edwards, 528. See Congregational- 

ISTS. 

Present, Jeremiah, of Deerfield, 161. 

President's House, Nicholas Brown 
urged by Manning to say nothing about 
until question of location was settled, 
119. 

President's Levee, inaugurated by Dr. 
Way land, took the place of a Com- 
mencement sermon, 85. 

Prevost, General, commanded the Brit- 
ish on the invasion of South Carolina, 
321. 

Priestley, Joseph, Lectures on History, 
" best book on that interesting sub- 
ject," 459; as a theologian gone to the 
ne plus tdt?-a of heresy, Caleb Evans 
preaches in ojiiiosition to his strange 
notions, 400 ; speaks out what he means, 
474. 

Prince, Mr., at Rocky Hill, 324. 

Princeton, Massachusetts, cases of suf- 
fering from oppressions reported to 
Warren Association, 166. 

Princeton University. See College of 
New Jersey. 

Proctor, John, appointed to present peti- 
tion to General Court of Massachusetts 
for redress of grievances, 78. 

Pronouncing Society for mutual im- 
provement, Solomon Drowne president 
of, 246. 

Providence, St. John's Episcopal Church 
formed in 1720, 211 ; incorporated in 
1772, 228; extends a call to Rev. Dr. 
William Rogers, 62; Congregational 
Church incorporated in 1770,228; lirst 



motion to have the College in, motion 
came from Moses Brown, 112; claims of 
for permanent location of the College 
discussed and advocated, 113; reasons 
urged in favor of Providence for the 
location, 115-116; Dr. Stiles's estimate 
of the population of Providence in 1770, 
prevailing religious sentiment Baptist, 
116; final meeting of the Corporation 
held in Warren to settle the question 
of the permanent location, town meet- 
ing held, and committee appointed to 
attend and urge claims of Providence, 
118; final vote in favor of Providence, 
twenty-one to fourteen, 121; Chancellor 
Hopkins's summary of the arguments 
in favor of " unreasonable enmity of 
Newport," 126-135; Providence in 1770 
compared with Newport, 136; town 
meetings called in January, 1774, and 
resolutions passed deprecating "a tame 
submission to any invasion of Ameri- 
can freedom," 259, 260; first of any 
municipal corporation to propose a 
General Congress, 281 ; inhabitants pa- 
triotic before the war began, 285 ; thanks 
voted in town meeting to Judge Daniel 
Jenckes for long continued and faithful 
service, 521; Providence County re- 
ceived and provided for four hundred 
of the poor of Newport who were re- 
moved to Providence during the War, 
290; a military camii for three years, 
war of artillery and hostile liames fre- 
quent, 294; Manning writes to Wallin 
in London after the war, King's army 
in sight of my house, College broken 
up, alarm upon alarm destroyed all 
tranquillity, ;343; celebration of the 
Fourth of July, 1788, by the partisans 
of ratification, parties from the country 
opposed to ratification of the Federal 
Constitution protested, riot averted, 
452 ; government of Rhode Island mak- 
ing a disgraceful figure among her sis- 
ter States in opposing the Constitution, 
" Providence shines forth as a lumi- 



600 



INDEX. 



nous spot upon this dark mass," 459; 
petition presented at the annual town 
meeting in June, 1791, in favor of edu- 
cating children at the public expense, 
462; committee appointed in town 
meeting, Aug. 27, 1789, to draft petition 
to Congress, praying that the State may 
not be regarded as a foreign State, and 
subjected to imposts and tonnage, 
Manning chairman of the committee, 
468-469 ; two hundred and fiftieth anni- 
versary of the planting of observed 
June 24, 1886, 200. See College Com- 
mencement, Corporation, Gaspee, 
Brown, Manning, Jenckes, Hopkins, 
etc. 

Providence Art Club, occupies the 
house owned originally by Nicholas 
Brown, 226. 

Providence Association of Mechanics 
and Manufactures, 463. 

Providence Fusileers, 261. 

Providence Gazette, established by "Wil- 
liam Goddard through the influence of 
Stephen Hopkins, 85; articles in, cited, 
account of First Commencement, 83-85; 
account of ordination of Charles Thomp- 
son, 100; notices of Building Commit- 
tee, March 31, and Feb. 10, 1770, 139; 
paragraph respecting mission of Heze- 
kiah Smith in the South, 148; votes of 
the Corporation, 1770, and notice of 
Building Committee, Jan. 19, 1771, 152, 
153; account of First Commencement 
in Providence, 164-165; address from 
Baptist Committee on Grievances, 165- 
166; account of Commencement for 
1771, President's address to graduating 
class, 180; notice respecting Manning's 
Latin School, 188; drawing of lottery 
for the new Baptist meeting-house an- 
nounced, 222 ; account of Commence- 
ment for 1773, 247; do. for 1774,260-261; 
communication from a committee of the 
Senior Class, 286 ; account of Commence- 
ment for 1776, 291-292; notification of 



the President suspending College exer- 
cises, 293; notice from the President to 
the Senior Class, 307; notice for meet- 
ing of Corporation in 1780, 332; notice 
of Commencement exercises in 1783, 
344-355; advertisement of "Wilkinson 
and Learned English and Latin School, 
in 1786, 387; Manning's sketch of 
Stephen Hopkins, 1785, 417 ; allusion to 
"Washington's visit to the College, 1790, 
480: Judge Howell's Sketch of Man- 
ning, 1791, 503-504; articles in 1774 in 
reference to College taxation, cited, 
543. 

Provost, Dr., Rector of Episcopal church 
in New York, 410. 

Prudence Island, seven miles in length, 
deserted on account of the War, 289. 

Public worship on the Sabbath, 266. 

Pulaski, Count, rejDulsed at Charleston, 
321. 

PuRCHAS, Jonathan, engraved portrait in 
Rippon's Baptist Register, 487. 

Putnam, Fort, at "West Point, account of, 
328. 

Pye, John, minister of England, recom- 
mended by Ryland for honors of the 
College, 174. 

Quakers, Rich and Scott joined, 205; 
Shaking Quakers, or New Dispensa- 
tion, 394. 

Quincy's history of Harvard University, 
cited, 94, 160. 

Randal, Dr., 342, 
Randall, Mr., 317. 
Randall, Jonathan, 153. 
Randolph. See Fitz Randolph. 
Randolph, Aunt, wife of Uncle Ephraim, 

494. 
Randolph, Captain, 324. 
Randolph, Robert, cousin to Manning, 

426. 
Randolph, Samuel, 320. 
Randolph, Uncle Joseph, 319, 326. 



INDEX. 



601 



Rathbui^, Baptist Elder of Pittsfield, 
voted against Federal Constitution, 
450. 

Rawmagin Iron Works in Connecticut, 
316. 

Read, Israel, signed Manning's parch- 
ment, 32. 

Read, Josiah, member of class of 1775, 
signed an address to the Faculty, 
286. 

Read, Seth, graduated in 1770, received 
degree of A. M. in 1773, 164, 247. 

Reading, Connecticut, 329. 

Record of Deeds, City Hall, Book 19 
contains account of original College 
premises, 137-1 3«. 

Redman, John, tirst President of College 
of Physicians in Philadelphia, adher- 
ent of Elhanan Winchester, 383. 

Redwood, Mr., of Philadelphia, 322. 

Redwood, Abraham, would give liberally 
towards the College if in Newport, 117 ; 
has at last subscribed live hundred 
pounds, 119. 

Redwood, William, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535, 

Redwood Library, Robert Rogers, Sec- 
retary, Treasurer,, and Librarian, 63; 
second library in the country in 1770, 
136. 

Reeve, lawyer, of Litchfield, 316. 

Rehoboth Baptist Church, Six Principle 
in 1764, 73. 

Reid, Captain William of the British 
armed sloop Liberty, 87. 

Religious basis of the College as seen in 
its laws, 271. 

Relly's Book on Union, Murray a mere 
retailer of, 343; Doctrine of Union, 
cited, 363. 

Revolutionary War,thousands and thou- 
sands of families once living in af- 
fluence reduced to beggary by, 365. See 
American Revolution, War. 

Reynolds, Elisha, Corporator, 536 ; Char- 
ter Trustee, 538. 

Reynolds, John, received degree of A. 
76 



M. in 1770, 165 ; Calvinistic Baptist min- 
ister in London able to read Greek, 245. 
Rhode Island a patriotic State or Col- 
ony, first to appoint delegates to the 
Continental Congress, first of any Col- 
ony to propose an annual Congress, 281 ; 
scarcely anything but a line of sea 
coast, exposed in consequence to the 
enemy, commerce destroyed, and the 
inhabitants kept constantly under 
arms, 289; Rhode Island and the Five 
Per Cent. Impost, 341; likely to hold a 
distinguished rank amongst the con- 
tributors to the ruin of the Federal 
Government, 440; rejected the Federal 
Constitution in town meetings, 456; 
seven times moved in General Assem- 
bly for the calling of a special Conven- 
tion, defeated by country members, 
477. See Convention, Federal Con- 
stitution, General Assembly, Legis- 
lature, Providence. 

Rhode Island, Island of Rhode Island, 
sixteen miles in length, threatening de- 
mands on, 286, 289; two thousand per- 
sons driven from in January, 1779, 
homeless and penniless, 309; "Days of 
Auld Lang Syne," cited, 89; Yearly 
Meeting, 72. 

Rhode Island Historical Society, obli- 
gations to acknowledged, 5; manuscript 
of Morgan Edwards's "materials" 
placed in its archives by Dr. Benedict, 
513. 

Rhode Island Literary Repository, 
cited, 3, 308. 

Rhodes, Charles, name mentioned in pre- 
amble to Charter, 535. 

Rhodes, Mr., Mayor of Philadelphia, at- 
tended Conference with the Baptists in 
Carpenter's Hall, 278. 

Rice, Nathan, signed original petition for 
Charter, 517. 

Richards, AVilliam, of Lynn, England, 
corresponds with Manning, has 
thoughts of writing life of Roger Wil- 
liams, has a library of fifteen hundred 



602 



i:n"dex. 



volumes, suggests that he may leave it 
to the College, 490; brief biographical 
sketch with account of his writings, 491 ; 
bequeathed his library in 1818 to Brown 
University, 492. See Letters. 

KiCHMOND, Barzillai, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535. 

Richmond, S. K., 143. 

Richmond Baptist Church, Six Principle 
in 1764, 73. 

Richmond Street Church formed by 
Joseph Snow and his adherents in 1793, 
164. 

RicKAED, George, 138. 

RippoN, John, a Calvinistic Baptist min- 
ister of London, successor of Dr. Gill, 
able to read Greek, 245 ; student at Bris- 
tol Academy under Hugh and Caleb 
Evans, 374; published in his Baptist 
Register a history of First Baptist 
Church, Providence, 197; writes to Man- 
ning that all the Baptist ministers in 
London, but two, and most of the Bap- 
tist clergy in the country, were on the 
side of the Americans during the War, 
gives an account of himself and his 
church, 373-376; copy of his " Selection 
of Hymns " presented by Mrs. Man- 
ning, in the writer's possession, 453; 
"Baptist Annual Register" taking a 
prodigious spread among the churches, 
485 ; intended to serve American Breth- 
ren particularly, 486; account of the 
four volumes published, 487 ; contained 
Judge Howell's obituary notice of Man- 
ning, with portrait, 506 ; Register, cited, 
11, 63, 226. See Letters. 

RoBBiNs, Asher, Tutor in College, first 
Librarian after the War, account of, 
379-280; gives good satisfaction, 398; 
oldest Tutor, gone to Connecticut sick, 
457. 

RoRBiNS, E., 483. 

RoBERDBAN, Daniel, American merchant 
in London, 231. 

Robinson, Mr., of Mansfield, 315. 



Robinson, Rev. Mr., of Bridgewater, re- 
vival under, 454. 

Robinson, George, Trustee of Baptist Ed- 
ucation Fund, 367. 

Robinson, Robert, of Cambridge, Eng- 
land, able to read Greek, 245; author of 
" History of Baptism," known to have 
adopted Dr. Priestley's system in gen- 
eral, 474; Socinian at time of his death, 
funeral sermon preached by Priestley, 
History of Baptism criticised by Booth, 
484; Ecclesiastical Researches in press, 
491. 

Robinson, Thomas, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535. 

ROCKAWAY, 327. 

Rodman, Joseph and Thomas, signed 
original petition for charter, 517. 

RoFFEY, Samuel, benefactor of the Col- 
lege, died in April, 1770, 71, 162. 

Rogers, Dr., of Greenfield, 329. 

Rogers, John, Captain of the Charlotte, 
241. 

Rogers, Jonathan, signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Rogers, Mrs. Eliza B., daughter of 
Stephen Gano, and granddaughter of 
Joseph Brown, 414. 

Rogers, Captain William, merchant of 
Newport, advertisement in Newport 
Mercury, 64 ; signed original petition for 
charter, 517 ; requested Judge Jenckes 
to sign petition for charter for a Bap- 
tist College, 522 ; bequeathed to the Col- 
lege two hundred pounds, 250. 

Rogers, Daniel, son of Captain William, 
pupil of Manning's Latin School, died 
in 1792, 52, 63. 

Rogers, Joseph, pupil of Manning's Latin 
School, 52; well, but mourning the loss 
of a dear wife, 402. 

Rogers, Robert, son of Captain William, 
graduated in 1775, prominent educator, 
63, 288; Trustee of Baptist Education 
Fund, 367. 

Rogers, William Sanford, son of Robert, 



INDEX. 



603 



founded Newport Rogers Professorship 
of Chemistry in honor of his father and 
his uncle "William, 63. 

EoGERS, "William, son of Captain "William, 
pupil of Manning's Latin School, 52; 
first student of the College, matricula- 
ted Sept. 3, 1765, biographical sketch 
with jiortrait, 59-64; Commencement 
Oration on Benevolence, 91-92 ; resem- 
blance to Hezekiah Smith, such another 
son of thunder, 175 ; successor of Mor- 
gan Edwards in the pastorate at Phila- 
delphia, 13 ; very popular preacher, 187 ; 
received degree of A. M. in 1772,189; 
attends Conference with the Baptists 
in Carpenter's Hall, 278; references to, 
321, 325; present at meeting of Corpo- 
ration in 1782, Secretary, pro tern., 336; 
requested to solicit benefactions for the 
College in Europe, 348; signed an ad- 
dress respecting Baptist church in Phil- 
adelphia and Elhanan "Winchester, 384; 
requested to solicit benefactions to the 
Southward, 386; jireaches Morgan Ed- 
wards's funeral discourse, 12; extracts 
from, 17; Journal of a Brigade Chap- 
lain, cited, 61; engraved portrait in 
Rippon"s Baxitist Register, 487. 

Rogers, Eliza J., daughter of Dr. Rogers, 
paints her father's portrait, 63. 

RoLiNS, Ephraim, of Mansfield, 331. 

Room Rent, four dollars per year, 385. 

Ross, Mr., of Stratford, 329. 

Round, Richard, represented Second 
Church, Rehoboth, at first meeting of 
"Warren Association, 75. 

Rum for building College edifice, 154, 155. 

RuNYAN, Rev. Mr., 435. 

Rush, Benjamin, signer of Declaration of 
Independence, 321 ; an adherent of El- 
hanan "Winchester, 383; reference to, 
401. 

Russell, Joseph, of Providence, Episco- 
pal Trustee, 1770,549; present at final 
meeting to determine permanent loca- 
tion, 121; member of committee to fix 
upon suitable place for the College edi- 



fice, 136; chairman of committee to hire 
suitable house for the President, 142; 
member of auditing committee, 156; 
Joseph and "William, merchants of Prov- 
idence, 171; member of Committee of 
Inspection during the "War, 283 ; present 
at meeting of Corporation in 1780.333; 
chairman of committee to superintend 
Manning's funeral, 496. 

Russell, "William, merchant of Provi- 
dence, 171 ; purchased John Angell's 
orchard for a lot for the new Baptist 
meeting-house, 219-220; member of 
standing committee of eleven, 221; man- 
ager of lottery for the new meeting- 
house, 222; elected Trustee in room of 
Hon. Samuel "Ward, deceased, 292; 
present at meeting of Corporation in 
1780, 333; member of committee to draft 
petition to Congress, 334, 

Russell, William, M. D., animadversions 
on Allen's Essay on Singing, cited, 215. 

Russell, Joseph Dolbeare, of Newport, 
graduated in class of 1772, 189. 

Ryland, John, prominent Baptist minis- 
ter and teacher of Northampton, Eng- 
land, received honorary degree of A. 
M. at First Commencement, 84; Man- 
ning begins a correspondence with, 171 ; 
contributes annually five guineas 
towards Manning's support, 171, 242, 
258; memoranda and hints for Professor 
Manning, 243-245; remarkable saying 
in regard to the American "SVar, cited, 
37G. See Letters. 

Ryland, John, Jr., successor of his fa- 
ther, in charge of the school at North- 
ampton, and preacher of the Gospel, 
Manning corresponds with, 395; re- 
ceived honorary degree of A. M. in 1772, 
189; distinguished scholar, President 
of the Baptist College at Bristol, 173; 
references to, 361, 412. See Letters. 

Sabbath no holiday in Manning's time, 

266. 
Sabin, Mr., of New Haven, 329. 



604 



INDEX. 



Sabin, James, plans for destruction of 
the Gaspee found at his house, 184. 

Sabine's American Loyalists, cited, 304. 

St. Clair, General in command of the 
Pennsj'lvania Line, 318. 

St. John's Encampment of Knights Tem- 
plar, Dr. Gano a member of, 414. 

St. Martin in the Fields, one of the 
finest churches in London, steeple sim- 
ilar to steeple of Baptist meeting-house 
in Providence, 223. 

Samptown, 326. 

Sanderson's Algebra, recommended by 
Eyland, 244. 

Sanford, Joseph, signed original petition 
for charter, 517. 

Saratoga, Chaplain Smith present at 
when Burgoyne surrendered, 147. 

Saunders, Joshua, signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, cited, 
200. 

ScHERMERHORN, Captain of sloop Sally, 
148. 

Scholarships, system of inaugurated by 
President Sears, 366. 

SciTUATE Baptist Church, Six Principle 
in 1764, 73. 

Scotch Plains, surprising spirit of emi- 
gration prevailing there, 456. 

Scotch Plains Baptist Church, Benjamin 
Miller pastor, baptized Manning when a 
student, 25; licensed Manning to preach, 
33; references to, 41, 50, 318, 326, 381. 

Scott, Captain, 381. 

Scott, Richard, statement respecting bap- 
tism of Roger "Williams, 205. 

Seal for the College, of silver, ordered 
at second meeting of Corporation, bill 
for amounting to £10 13 shillings, 57; 
had busts of the King and Queen, 
broken and committee appointed to 
make new seal, 3.37; device for exhibited 
by Doct. Drowne and approved by Cor- 
poration, 349 ; seal for another college 
" to be located in Newport, impression 
of in writer's possession, 134; original 



in possession of Charles H. Wyatt,Esq., 
of Baltimore, 135. 

Seamans, Job, of Attleborough, present 
at meeting of Warren Association in 
1782, 339. 

Sears, Barnas, obligations to acknowl- 
edged, 5; inaugurated system of schol- 
arships, 366; views resjiecting exemp- 
tion from taxation, 544; Centennial Dis- 
course, cited, 11, 42, 128, 525. 

Seekonk River, John Clarke and Mr. 
Lukar baptized in, 20()-107. 

Semple's History of Baptists in Virginia, 
cited, 8, 407. 

Senior Class authorized to admonish 
members of under classes, 272. 

September gale, caused steeple of Bap- 
tist meeting-house to quiver, 224, 

Sergeant, Jonathan Dickinson, class- 
mate of Manning, 32. 

Sessions, Darius, Corporator, 536; Charter 
Trustee, 537; Congregationalist Trus- 
tee in 1770, 549 ; views in favor of Prov- 
idence for permanent location of the 
College, 114; in town meeting, added 
to a committee to lay Providence sub- 
scriptions before Corporation, 118; 
present at final meeting to determine 
location, 121 : member of committee of 
five to prepare and enforce remon- 
strance to General Assembly, 132 ; mem- 
ber of auditing committee on College 
edifice, 156; Deputy Governor, corre- 
sponds in regard to affair of the Gas- 
pee, 184; on committee to confer with 
Manning in reference to soliciting 
funds in Europe, 190; reference to, 314. 

Shand, Captain of ship from Providence 
to London, 175, 254. 

Sharp, Daniel, estimate of the character 
of William Rogers, 62. 

Sharp, Granville, correspondent of Man- 
ning, benefactor of the College, noted 
for his opposition to the American War, 
407. See Letters. 

Sharp, Archbishop, sermons and works 
presented to the Library, 410. 



INDEX. 



605 



Shayism in Massachusetts, 456. 

Sheldon, Christopher, one of the Asses- 
sors of taxes in 1774, 543; member stand- 
ing committee of eleven for building 
new meeting-house, 221; signed letter 
to Manning asking him to preach, 472. 

Sheldon, Joseph, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535. 

Shepard, Jonathan, represented Haver- 
hill Baptist Church at first meeting of 
"Warren Association, 75. 

Shepard, Dr. Samuel, ordained in 1771 at 
Strath am, 161. 

Shepherd, Deacon, 412. 

Sherburne, Benjamin, signed original 
petition for Charter, 517. 

Sheridan's Lectures on Elocution, cited, 
355. 

Sherman, Rev. Mr., of Milford, 329. 

Shields, Thomas, member of Baptist 
Church, Philadelphia, signed an ad- 
dress respecting Elhanan Winchester, 
384 : references to, 321, 322, 323, 325. 

Sibley s Catalogues of Harvard Univer- 
sity, cited, 80. 

Signal Post, or Beacon, on Prospect Hill, 
157. 

Silver, Edgar O., of Boston, Baptist 
Trustee, 550. 

Simmons, James B., of New York, Baptist 
Trustee, 549. 

Simpson's Work on Fluxions, 244. 

Singing in Public Worship, opposed by 
Quakers and many early Baptists, 
works on, cited, 215. 

Singleton, Mrs., of Delaware, second 
wife of Morgan Edwards, 13. 

Skillman, Isaac, pupil of Isaac Eaton at 
Hopewell Acadeiny, 9; admitted to de- 
gree of A. M.,261; desired with Man- 
ning and others to prepare Spelling 
Book and Baptist Catechism, 340 ; mem- 
ber of Committee on Grievances, 380. 

Slade, Jonathan, Cor^iorator, 53t3 ; Char- 
ter Trustee. 538. 

Slave Trade, Presbyterians, Independ- 
ents, and Anti-Pedobaptists in England 



united in a political bond for the aboli- 
tion of, 453. 

Smiley, Albert K., of Mohonk Lake, Qua- 
ker Trustee, .550. 

Smith, Rev. Mr., .324, .325. 

Smith, Dr., of Litchfield, 31G; of Chatham, 
327; of Hartford, .331. 

Smith, Caleb, signer of Manning's di- 
ploma, 32. 

Smith, Eliphalet, Presbyterian minister, 
baptized by Hezekiah Smith, 160-161; 
Mary, wife of Eliphalet, 161. 

Smith, Hayward, signed memorial from 
Providence in favor of the College, 115. 

Smith, Hezekiah, pupil of Isaac Eaton at 
Hopewell Academy, 9; classmate and 
intimate friend of Manning, 32 ; name 
omitted in Stiles draft of charter, 520; 
appointed Baptist Fellow in 1765, ex- 
tract from his diary, 53; punctual in his 
attendance at all the meetings of the 
Corporation, account of his diary, 1762- 
1805, acknowledged leader among the 
Baptists, 55-56; designated by Backus 
as one of the three liberally educated 
Baptist ministers in New England, 64; 
one of the four illustrious names that 
united to form the Warren Association, 
represented Baptist Church of Haver- 
hill, 74-75; appointed to receive well- 
attested grievances, 78; received the 
degree of A. M. at First Commence- 
ment, 84; accustomed in Manning's 
time to preach the Commencement ser- 
mon, 85; desired by the Corporation 
to solicit benefactions for the College 
in the Southern Provinces, copy of cre- 
dentials given him, brief account of 
him and his mission, 146-150, gave 
charge at ordination of Samuel Shep- 
ard, 161 ; when in Providence accus- 
tomed to preach part of the time for 
Manning, and part for Mr. Snow, 164; 
member of Committee on Grievances, 
166 ; chosen in 1770 agent to the Court 
of Great Britain to act in conjunction 
with Stennett, Llewelyn, and Wallin, 



606 



INDEX. 



166 ; reference to in Circular Letter, 
167; marvellously blessed in his minis- 
terial labors at Haverhill, 177; owned 
a chaise, man of means and consequence, 
237; account of Commencement week, 
1773, diary, 250; present at meeting of 
Corporation, 1774, 263; urges Backus to 
go to Philadelphia and secure from 
Continental Congress religious liberty, 
276; prepares Circular Letter of War- 
ren Association, extract from, 277; pres- 
ent at meeting of Corporation in 1782, 
335; Moderator of Warren Association, 
339; account of Commencement, 1783, 
diary, 349; designated by Manning as 
member of a Standing Committee to 
aid poor students, 366; Trustee of the 
Baptist Education Fund, 367 ; member 
of Committee on Grievances in 1784, 
380; attended Commencement for 1786, 
preached three sermons in Baptist meet- 
ing-house on the succeeding Sabbath, 
442; fitted Asa Messer for College, 455; 
diary cited, 99, 111, 160-161, 179. See 
Letters. 

Smith, Hezekiah, Jr., in College, needs 
more stability, 460-461 ; standing shall 
remain as it has done, 483. 

Smith, John, member of the Baptist 
Church, 202. 

Smith, John, passenger in sloop Sally for 
Charleston, 148. 

Smith, Peter, 324. 

Smith, Turpin, one of the actors in affair 
of the Gaspee, 185. 

Smith, William O., signer to Manning's 
diploma, 32. 

Smithfield, part of Providence until 
1730, 521 

Smithfield Baptist Church, Six Princi- 
ple in 1764, 73. 

Snow, Mr. at Westford tavern, 331. 

Snow, Joseph, pastor of a Society called 
"New Lights," or "Separates," after- 
wards the Beneficent Congregational 
Church, 163; First Commencement in 
Providence held in his meeting-house, 



164 ; thanks of the Corporation extended 
for the use of, 152; frequently practised 
baptism by immersion in the Provi- 
dence river, 156; church formed in 1743, 
211 ; Commencement for 1774 held for 
the last time in "Mr. Snow's meeting- 
house," 260; Hezekiah Smith, of Haver- 
hill, accustomed when visiting Provi- 
dence to preach part of the time for 
Manning and part for Mr. Snow, 164; 
on committee with Manning in favor of 
public schools, 463. 

Snow, Samuel, member of Junior Class 
at breaking up of the College, admitted 
to degree of A. B., 326. 

Snow, Stephen, 315. 

SociNiANiSM, gaining ground in England, 
485. 

SoMNKR, Major, from Providence, 325. 

Sons of Liberty, 87. 

South, Rev. Dr., cited, 507. 

South Carolina, benefactions for the 
College from, 147. 

South Carolina College, Jonathan 
Maxcy President of, 448. 

South County, subscribed for the College 
to be located in Newport, 119. 

South Kingstown, 44; Baptist Church 
Six Principle in 1764, 73. 

SowARD, Colonel, 318. 

Spalding's Centennial Discourse, cited, 
47, 50. 

Spark's American Biography, cited, 197. 

Speaking at evening prayers, 268. 

Spear, Nathan, of Boston, name omitted 
in Stiles draft of charter, 520; Baptist 
Trustee in 1770, 549; appointed to pre- 
sent petitions to General Courts of 
Massachusetts and Connecticut for re- 
dress of grievances, 78; present at final 
meeting to determine permanent loca- 
tion, 121 ; voted in favor of Providence, 
126 ; present at meeting of Corporation 
in 1774, gives ten pounds for increase of 
Prof. Howell's salary, 263, 264. 

Speculation and discontent everywhere 
manifest, 322. 



INDEX. 



607 



Spelling Book and Baptist Catechism, 
Warren Association voted to publish, 
339-340. 

Spencer, Major-General Joseph, 323, 325. 

Spilsbury, John, pastor of Baptist church 
ia England, 1633, 204. 

Sprague, William, of Narragansett Pier, 
Baptist Trustee, 549. 

Sprague, William B., obligations of the 
writer to acknowledged, 5; collector of 
autographs, the Stiles charter formerly 
in his possession, 525 ; Annals of the 
American Pulpit, cited, 18, 25, 62, 98, 
101, 321, 456. See Letters. 

Stafford, John, recommended by Ry- 
land for College honors, 174. 

Stamp Act, opposition to interfered with 
Morgan Edwards's subscriptions, 70; 
went into operation Nov. 1, 1765, fatal 
day, universal resistance to, 86. 

Stanbury, Recompense, Elder in Scotch 
Plains Church, 33,34. 

Standing Order, grievous oppressions 
and persecutions from, especially in 
Ashtield, 78; oppressive measures 
against Baptists in Connecticut, rem- 
edy sought by Warren Association 
through Committee on Grievances, 165. 

Stanford, John, author of Book of Rec- 
ords, or history of Baptist Church in 
1789, 197; preacher from England, tem- 
porary pastor of Baptist Church in 
Providence, 1788-1789, compiled records 
of the church, 212-213; expected from 
New York in the spring, 451 ; not to stay 
after expiration of term agreed on, 461 ; 
name in connection with history in 
Rippon's Baptist Register, to be kept 
entirely out of sight, 486. 

Staples, William R., incorporated in his 
history Appendix to Morgan Edwards's 
"Materials," 513; Annals of Provi- 
dence, cited, 19, 129, 170, 188, 209, 211, 
219,261, 283, 293, 304, 462, 468, 469,525; 
Rhode Island in the Continental Con- 
gress, cited, 290, 479. 

Stark, Obadiah, of Colchester, 189. 



Stead, Mr., Baptist Trustee for manage- 
ment of Moore's funds for an Indian 
College, 163. 

Steel, Captain Elijah, passenger in sloop 
Sally, 148. 

Steeple of First Baptist meeting-house 
described, 223. 

Stelle, Benjamin, a worthy magistrate, 
for many years pastor of the Piscata- 
way Baptist Church, 37. 

Stelle, Isaac, succeeded his father in the 
pastoral office, 37 ; one of the inspectors 
of Hopewell Academy, 9; made the 
prayer at Manning's ordination, 37; 
references to, 319, 320, 324, 326; died in 
1781, 344. 

Stelle, Benjamin, son of Isaac, pupil of 
Isaac Eaton at Hopewell Academy, 10; 
brief account of, graduated at College 
of New Jersey, 37 ; has a Latin School 
in Providence of twenty scholars, 220; 
clerk of a meeting of the Baptist Soci- 
ety, 220 ; first clerk of Charitable Bap- 
tist Society, partner of Benjamin Bowen 
in the druggist business, 227 ; admitted 
to the degree of A. M. in 1774, 261. 

Stelle, Mary Bowen, daughter of Benja- 
min, second wife of Hon. Nicholas 
Brown, 227. 

Stennett, Samuel, of London, Morgan 
Edwards studied divinity under, 14; 
subscriber to the early funds of the Col- 
lege, 71 ; chairman of committee to act 
in conjunction with Committee on 
Grievances, Manning opens corre- 
spondence with, account of, with por- 
trait, 158-159 ; trustee for management 
of Dr. Moore's funds for an Indian Col- 
lege, 163; chairman of committee to act 
in conjunction with agent of the War- 
ren Association, 166 ; success in procur- 
ing passage of an act to relieve the Bap- 
tists in Ashfield, memorial to His Maj- 
esty's Commissioners for Trade and 
Plantations, 168-169; Discourses on Do- 
mestic Duties, 239, 404; procured an 
order from Government to put a stop 



608 



INDEX. 



to the oppressions of the Baptists near 
Boston, 244; able to read Greek, 245; 
engraved portrait in Rippon's Baptist 
Register, 487. See Letters. 

Sterling's Rhetoric, 385. 

Steuben, Baron, Manning introduced to 
at West Point, 328. 

Stevens, Robert, signed original petition 
for Charter, 517. 

Stevfards, Commons, etc., 273-274. 

Stiles, Ezra, pastor of Second Congrega- 
tional Church in Newport, 1755-1776, 
"most learned American of his day," 
117, 203; librarian for many years of the 
Redwood Library, 136; Corporator, 536 ; 
Charter Fellow, 538 ; gave as a reason 
for not accepting a Fellowship, the 
offense he should give liis brethren, 242 ; 
solicited by Governor Lyndon and Col- 
onel Bennet to assist them in drafting 
a charter, his course in the matter, Pro- 
fessor Kingsley's statement, 518; mem- 
orandum respecting the first charter 
found among the Stiles papers, and 
cited by Dr. Sears in appendix to Cen- 
tennial Discourse, 525 ; remarks con- 
cerning for the Rev. Dr. Charles Chaun- 
cy, Boston, written on the back of the 
Stiles draft, 526; statement that the 
first church in Rhode Island, founded 
by Roger Williams, was Congrega- 
tional, 203; diary respecting the Col- 
lege in 1770, contest between Provi- 
dence and Newport for the location, 
cited, 117; diary respecting Manning 
and his leaving the church to go with 
the College to Providence, cited, 143; 
diary respecting William Ellery and a 
petition for another College to be loca- 
ted in Newport, cited, 129; diary re- 
specting a visit to the College edifice, 
November, 1771, five or six lower rooms 
finished, cited, 155 ; estimate respect- 
ing population of Providence in 1770, 
five hundred dwelling-houses, four 
thousand inhabitants, half as big as 
Newport, prevailing sentiment Baptist, 



116; assertions made in reference to 
the Baptist Conference in Carpenter's 
Hall, 1774, 280; account of the finding 
of the lost copy of the Stiles draft of 
charter, 525-527. See Letters. 
Stillman, Samuel, of Boston, pupil of 
Isaac Eaton at Hopewell Academy, 9 ; 
aided by the Religious Society of 
Charleston, 27; name omitted in the 
Stiles draft of charter, 520; Corporator, 
536; Charter Trustee, 538; Baptist Fel- 
low, 1770, 550 ; present at second meet- 
ing of the Corporation, brief account of, 
appointed to procure seal for the Col- 
lege, 56, 58; portrait of, 344; designated 
by Backus as one of the three liberally 
educated Baptist ministers lately come 
from the South, 64; chairman of Com- 
mittee on Grievances, 78, 166 ; appointed 
by the Warren Association to present 
to the General Courts of Massachusetts 
and Connecticut petitions for redress, 
78; present at First Commencement, 
received degree of A. M., 84; accus- 
tomed in Manning's time to preach the 
Commencement sermon, 85; present at 
final meeting to determine permanent 
location of the College, voted in favor 
of Providence, 120, 126 ; member of com- 
mittee of five to prepare Remonstrance 
to the General Assembly, 132 ; preached 
sermon at ordination of Samuel Shep- 
ard, 161 ; present at meeting of Corpo- 
ration in 1774, and also in 1782, 203, 335 ; 
present at meeting of Warren Associa- 
tion in Providence, 1782, preached the 
opening sermon, 339; desired with Man- 
ning and others to prei^are Spelling 
book and Baptist Catechism, 340; pres- 
ent in 1783 when the public exercises 
of Commencement Avere resumed, 
preached an animating sermon from 
Luke XV. 32,344; apiJointed with Man- 
ning and Plopkins to make out Cata- 
logue of the Library, 347; appointed 
with Manning and Waterhouse to draft 
an address and petition to the King of 



INDEX. 



609 



France for his patronage of the College, 
348 ; designated by Manning as member 
of a Standing Committee to aid poor 
students, 366; trustee of the Baptist 
Education Fund, 367 ; chairman of Com- 
mittee of Grievances in 1784, 380 ; one of 
the twelve Representatives from Boston 
to the Federal Convention, 449; voted 
for the adoption of the Federal Constitu- 
tion, 450; engraved portrait in Rippon's 
Baptist Register, 487. See Letters. 

Stillwater, Chaplain Smith present at 
battle of, 147. 

Stites family, ancestry of, 35. 

Stites, William, moved from Hampstead 
in 1727, 35. 

Stites, "William, Jr., resided in Eliza- 
bethtown, 35, 326. 

Stites, John, oldest son of William 1st., 
Manning's father-in-law, mayor of 
Elizabethtown, resided at Connecticut 
Farms, character of, 34-35 ; one of the 
founders of the College, 20; appointed 
by Philadelphia Association to receive 
donations for, 21 ; three sons educated 
at Hopewell Academy, 35; received de- 
gree of A. M. at First Commencement, 
84; references to, 318, 319; Dr. Dayton 
executor of his estate, 342. 

Stites, Mrs., wife of John, and Manning's 
mother-in-law, about to die of consump- 
tion, June, 1784, 387. 

Stites, Margaret, daughter of John and 
wife of Manning, 34 ; professed religion 
in 1775, died in 1815, 36; bequeathed 
Manning's portrait to Brown Univer- 
sity, 36; her portrait bequeathed to 
Brown University by Miss Maria Ben- 
edict, 36. 

Stites, Sarah, daughter of John, and 
wife of John Gano, 36. 

Stites, Mary, daughter of John, and Man- 
ning's sister-in-law, 36. 

Stites, Hezekiah, son of John, and Man- 
ning's brother-in-law, pupil of Isaac 
Eaton at Hopewell Academy, physi- 
cian, 10, 36, 326, 413. 
77 



Stites, John, son of John, Manning's 
brother-in-law, merchant and physi- 
cian, pupil of Isaac Eaton, 10, 36, 404. 
Stites, Richard, youngest son of John, 
and Manning's brother-in-law, pupil of 
Isaac Eaton, 10; pupil of Manning's 
Latin School at Warren, 52; second 
student of the College, matriculated 
June 20, 1766, 59; graduated in 1769, 
biographical sketch, 93; received de- 
gree of A. M. in 1772, 189. 
Stites, Richard Montgomery, son of 

Richard, graduated in 1792, 93, 342. 
Stites, Richard Montgomery, grandson 
of the above. Civil Engineer in Morris- 
town, 93. 
Stites, Mr., 324, 326. 
Stoddard, Elijah B., of Worcester, Con- 

gregationalist Trustee, 550. 
Stone, Edwin M., edited the Morgan Ed- 
wards manuscript, 513 ; Life of Elhanan 
Winchester, cited, 384 ; Life and Recol- 
lections of John Howland, cited, 143; 
Our French Allies, cited, 353. 
Stone's Euclid, 350. 
Stony Point, taken by General Wayne, 

324. 
Storm, Captain, 317. 
Stout, Nathaniel, 325. 
Stout, Rebecca, wife of Isaac Eaton, and 
mother of Joseph Eaton, of the first 
graduating class, 90. 
Strong, Nathan, pastor of First Congre- 
gational Church, Hartford, 315, 331 ; 
oilers Introductory Prayer at ordina- 
tion of Tutor Flint, 484. 
Stuart, Gilbert, received his first lessons 
in drawing from Cosmo Alexander, 506. 
Studies and text-books in 1783, 355-356. 
Sullivan, General, in command in Rhode 

Island, 308. 
Sumner, James, Chief Engineer in erect- 
ing high steeple of Baptist meeting- 
house, 224. 
Sunday, or First day of the week, no hol- 
iday in Manning's time, 266. 
Sutton, John, pupil of Isaac Eaton at 



610 



INDEX. 



Hopewell Academy, member with Man- 
ning of the Scotch Plains Church, 10, 
42 ; accompanied Manning on his voy- 
age to Halifax in 1763, 42, 214 ; settled 
in Nova Scotia in 1760, preached and 
baptized, settled again in Nova Scotia, 
1766-1770, 214 ; preached six months in 
Providence as assistant to Elder Win- 
sor, 1769-1770, 213; finally settled in 
Kentucky, worldly prospects happy, 
214, 483. 

Swain, Edward A., one of the Princi- 
pals of University Grammar School, 52. 

Swansea Baptist Church, founded by 
John Miles in 1663, oldest in Massachu- 
setts, 47 ; Six Principle in 1764, 73. 

SwEETLAND, Cornclius S., of Providence, 
Episcopal Trustee, 550. 

Symonds, Joshua, Calvinistic Baptist 
minister, preacher in John Bunyan's 
piilpit, recommended by Eyland for 
College honors, 177, 245. 

Taggart, William, signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Tanner, James, signed original petition 
for charter, 517. 

Tanner, John, of Newport, Baptist Trus- 
tee, 1770, 549 ; signed original pptition 
for charter, 517 ; present at final meet- 
ing to determine permanent location of 
the College, voted in favor of Newport, 
121, 126. 

Taxation, clause in the Charter exempt- 
ing from, has given rise to unhappy 
discussions, account of in 1773-1774, 
542-544 ; act passed by the General As- 
sembly in 1863, the Corporation con- 
senting, exempting President and Pro- 
fessors to the amount of ten thousand 
dollars, account of, 544-548; recent re- 
newal of the subject, City Assessors 
taxed College property on Westminster 
Street, tax paid under protest, ques- 
tion brought before Ajipellate Division 
of the Supreme Court, 548-549; de- 
cision of the Court, 621-625. 



Taxes imposed by the State in f779 enor- 
mous, 313. 

Taylor, George, kept small school for 
church scholars in 1770, 461. 

Taylor, John, Corporator, 536; Charter 
Trustee, 538. 

Tea, agreement not to purchase or use 
after March, 1775, three hundred pounds 
burned in the Market Place, 283. 

Tennent, Gilbert, Benjamin Miller con- 
verted under his preaching, 25. 

Tennent, William Mackay, a distin- 
guished Presbyterian minister, 329. 

Test Laws, Baptists in England clogged 
with, 475. 

Tew, Paul, of Woodstock, 314. 

Text-Books in 1783, 355-366. 

Thayer, Jabez, graduated at Commence- 
ment of 1776, 291. 

Thivell, Captain, 388. 

Thomas, David, received degree of A. M. 
at First Commencement, 84. 

Thomas, Hiram H., owner of the Nicholas 
Brown dwelling on Thomas Street, 226. 

Thomas, John, engraved portrait of in 
Rippon's Baptist Register, 487. 

Thomas, Mr., of London, finds first vol- 
ume of Backus used as waste paper, 423. 

Thomas Street, in 1787 a lane, 226. 

Thompson, Charles, pupil of Isaac Eaton 
at Hopewell Academy, 9; student in 
Rhode Island College, allowed fourteen 
pounds out of Mrs. Hobb's legacy, 21; 
Valedictorian of first graduating class, 
biographical sketch, with valedictory 
oration, 99-107; baptizes his classmate, 
William Williams, 97; revival under 
his ministry at Warren, 187; received 
degree of A. M. in 1772, 189. 

Thompson, Doct. William of Warren, son 
of Charles, 102. 

Thompson, Capt. John B., of Warren, 
grandson of Charles, 102. 

Thompson, Louisa H., of Warren, great- 
granddaughter of Charles, 102. 

Thompson, Ebenezer, member of commit- 
tee to draft petition to Congress, 334. 



INDEX. 



611 



Thompson, Mr., of Connecticut, 314. 

Thornton's Pulpit of American Revolu- 
tion, cited, 304, 433. 

Thresher, Ebenezer, 149. 

Throckmorton, Jolin, one of the found- 
ers of Rhode Island, 202; John and his 
wife excluded from the Salem church, 
203. 

Thurber, Benjamin, on committee to 
draft charter for Charitable Baptist 
Society, member of Standing Commit- 
tee of eleven, 221 ; manager of lottery 
for the new meeting-house, 222. 

Thurber, Benjamin, of Pomfret, Ct., 314. 

Thurber, Edward, member of Standing 
Committee of eleven, 221 ; manager of 
lottery for new meeting-house, 222. 

Thurber, James, 314. 

Thurber, Samuel, account of schools in 
Manning's time, 461. 

Thurber, Mr., 331. 

Thurston, Benjamin Babcock, member 
of committee on question of taxation, 
546. 

Thurston, Edward, Jr., of Newport, Cor- 
porator, 536; Charter Trustee, 538; Qua- 
ker Trustee, 1770, 549; signed and sealed 
the Charter as Secretary of the Colony, 
Oct. 24, 1765, 542; present at first and 
second meetings of the Corporation, 52, 
55; present at final meeting to deter- 
mine permanent location, 121 ; voted in 
favor of Newport, 126; appointed by 
the Corporation to procure from Eng- 
land a copperplate for diplomas, 250. 

Thurston, Gardner, of Newport, signed 
original petition for charter, 517; Cor- 
porator, 536; Charter Trustee, 538; Bap- 
tist Trustee, 1770, 549; meeting-house 
and congregation largest of any con- 
nected with Baptist denomination in 
New England, 46 ; occasionally visited 
and baptized in Warren before Man- 
ning's time, 47 ; participated in services 
at Manning's ordination, 48 ; intimate 
friend of Dr. Stiles, present at first and 
second meetings of Corporation, 52, 57 ; 



present at final meeting to determine 
permanent location of the College, 121 ; 
voted in favor of Providence, 126 ; 
blessed shower of divine grace under 
his preaching, forty baptized, 344; des- 
ignated by Manning as member of a 
Standing Committee to aid poor stu- 
dents, 366. 

Thurston, Mrs., wife of Gardner, died of 
small pox, 1784, 397. 

Thurston, Peleg, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535. 

TiNGLEY, Baptist Elder of Waterbury, 
voted against adoption of Federal Con- 
stitution, 450. 

TiNGLEY, Joseph, Manning's brother-in- 
law, lived in Samptown, 24,319, 326. 

TiNGLEY Bros., in possession of the copy 
of Gibbs's Designs of Building used in 
constructing steeple to new Baptist 
meeting-house, 223. 

Tillinghast, Colonel of the Company of 
Artillery, escorted the Commencement 
procession, 1788, 457. 

Tillinghast, Daniel, in town meeting 
added to the committee appointed to 
lay Providence subscriptions before 
Corporation, 118; member of Standing 
Committee of eleven to advise in build- 
ing new meeting-house, 221 ; manager 
of lottery for the new house, 222; on 
committee to hire suitable dwelling- 
house for Manning, 142. 

Tillinghast, George, received degree of 
A. B. in 1783. 345. 

Tillinghast, Henry H., graduated in 
class of 1773, 247. 

Tillinghast, John, of Newport, signed 
original petition for charter, 517 ; Cor- 
porator, 536; Charter Trustee, 537; Bap- 
tist Trustee, 1770, 549; present at first 
and second meetings of Corporation, 
53, 57 ; member of committee to present 
and enforce remonstrance to General 
Assembly, 132. 

Tillinghast, Joseph, one of the actors in 
affair of the Gaspee, 185. 



612 



INDEX. 



TiLLiNGHAST, Nicliolas, signed original 
petition for cliarter, 517; Corporator, 
536; Charter Trustee, 537; Baptist Trus- 
tee, present at first and second meet- 
ings of Corporation, 52, 57. 

TiLLiNGHAST, Pardou, Elder in Baptist 
Church, 208; account of , 209-210. 

TiLLiNGHAST, Thomas, Judge of the Su- 
preme Court in case of Trevett vs. 
Weeden, 96. 

TiLLiNGHAST, William, received degree 
of A.M. in 1774,261. 

TiRBiLL, William, 161. 

Tirril's tavern in Kent, 316. 

Tiverton Baptist Church, Six Principle 
in 1764, 73, 

Tobey, Samuel Boyd, Chairman of Com- 
mittee on Subject of Taxation, 546. 

Todd, Charles S., communication respect- 
ing John Gano, cited, 39. 

Tolman's History of Higher Education 
in Khode Island, cited, 72. 

ToMMAS, John, engraved portrait of in 
Eippon's Baptist Register, 487. 

ToPLADT, Augustus M., recommended by 
Ryland for the honors of the College, 
173; account of Toplady and his works, 
231-233; Treatise on Predestination a 
masterly performance, 254; language 
used by him in reference to the hon- 
orary degree of D. D., conferred "like 
grace from heaven, unthought of, un- 
implored," 400. 

Tories, great damage done by robbing, 
etc., Dutchess Co., 316. 

Toryism, Morgan Edwards's recantation 
of, 16. 

TouLMiN, Joshua, benefactor of the Col- 
lege, received degree of A. M at First 
Commencement, 84. 

Trade embarrassments, especially in 
New England, 404. 

Treat, Richard, signed Manning's di- 
ploma, 32. 

Treby, John, signed original petition for 

charter, 517. 
Trevett vs. Weeden, celebrated case, 



General Varnum's great forensic effort, 
96. 

Triennial Catalogue of 1772, the first one 
published, no copy of it known to exist, 
alluded to by Dr. Stiles in his diary, 191. 

Trinity Church, Newport, incorporated 
in 1769, 227. 

Trinity College, Dublin, boasts of her 
Archbishop Usher, 59. 

Tuition, twenty-four shillings per quar- 
ter, 1784, 385. 

Turner, Daniel, Calvinistic Baptist min- 
ister of England, received degree of A. 
M. in 1770, 165, 245. 

Turner, Mr., 326. 

Turner's Rhetoric, 385. 

Tustin's Dedication Discourse, cited, 48, 
112. 

TuTTLE, Moses, 318, 327. 

Tyler, Othniel, received degree of A. B. 
in 1783, 345. 

Tyler's History of Amherst College, 
cited, 511. 

Tyron, Governor of New York, invasion 
of Connecticut, with two thousand Brit- 
ish troops attacked the village of Dan- 
bury, 324, 329. 

Union College, Jonathan Maxcy Presi- 
dent of, 447. 

United States Bureau of Education, 
cited, 72. 

United Train of Artillery, formed in 1775 
from Fusileers and Artillery, 261. 

Universal Salvation, doctrine propaga- 
ted by James Relly and John Murray, 
363; preached in Baptist Church, Phil- 
adelphia, by Elhanan Winchester, 383. 

University Hall. See College Edifice. 

University of Pennsylvania, under Epis- 
copal control, 20 ; William Rogers Pro- 
fessor in, 61. 

University of Vermont, conferred on 
Asa Messer the degree of LL. D., 456. 

Upham, Edward, of Newport, graduate 
of Harvard, 46 ; one of the two Baptist 
ministers in New England in 1644 who 



INDEX. 



613 



had a liberal education, 64 ; Corporator, 
536; Charter Fellow, 538; Baptist Fel- 
low in 1770, 550; present at first and 
second meetings of the Corporation, 52, 
56 ; received degree of A. M. at the First 
Commencement, 84 ; present at the 
final meeting to determine the perma- 
nent location of the College, 120; voted 
in favor of Providence, 126. 
UsTiCK, Thomas, Philadelphia Associa- 
tion voted fourteen pounds towards de- 
fraying his expenses in College, 22 ; 
graduated in 1771, prominent teacher 
and preacher, 180; received degree of 
A. M. in 1774, 261; recommended by- 
Manning for the pastorate of the Bap- 
tist Church, in Ashford, 262; succeeds 
Elhanan Winchester as pastor of the 
Baptist Church in Philadelphia, 384; 
finds that a school greatly interferes 
with the discharge of a pastor's duty, 
399 ; interests himself in obtaining from 
the University of Pennsylvania the 
degree of D. D. for his beloved Presi- 
dent Manning, 400; selected by Man- 
ning to take chai-ge of books and for- 
ward them to illiterate Baptist minis- 
ters in Kentucky, 403, 405-406, 415. 

Vacations in College in 1774, 1783, and 
1843, 265. 

Vane, Sir Henry, in sympathy with the 
religious views of Roger "Williams, 206. 

Van Horne, Peter B., inspector of Hope- 
well Academy, 9. 

Van Horne, "William, received honorary 
degree in 1774, 261 ; present at Com- 
mencement, 1774, urges Backus to go to 
Philadelphia and endeavor to procure 
from Congress religious liberty, 276; 
brief account of, 320; requested by the 
Corporation to solicit benefactions in 
the South, 348, 386. 

Van Kirk, Dr. Manning visits, 320. 

Van Pelt, Sarah, wife of John Manning, 
and sister-in-law of President Manning, 
24. 



Varnum, James Mitchel, member of first 
graduating class, biographical sketch, 
93-97 ; member of committee to present 
and enforce remonstrance to General 
Assembly, 132; received degree of A. 
M. in 1772, 189; oration on by Solomon 
Drowne, 246 ; forensic effort Trevett vs. 
"Weeden, 445. 

Varnum, Joseph Bradley, younger 
brother of James, prominent states- 
man in Massachusetts, 97. 

Vavasor, Captain Josiah, of New York, 
414. 

Vermont, formerly the Hampshire 
grants, glorious revival in, 394. 

Vernon, "William, signed the original jie- 
tition for charter, 517. 

Virginia, thousands there hopefully con- 
verted, 176, 191, 193; adopts the Federal 
Constitution by majority of ten, 448. 

VosE, James G., statement in reference 
to Nicholas Cooke, 156. 

"Wadsworth, General, 329. 

"Wakeman, Squire, 329. 

"Waldo's meeting-house, congregation 
divided in i^olitics, 316-317. 

"Walker, Joseph H., of "Worcester, Bap- 
tist Trustee, 549. 

Wall, Mr., 320. 

Wallace, Captain, made threatening de- 
mands on Conanicut, 286. 

Wallin, Benjamin, received degree in 
1770, 165; member of Baptist Commit- 
tee of Great Britain to act in conjunc- 
tion with agent of Warren Association, 
166; works, including Hymns, de- 
scribed by the author, 240; sent his 
works in ten volumes, together with 
works of John Bunyan, as a present to 
the Library, 254; presented box of 
books to the Library, 342, 359 ; promi- 
nent Baptist minister in London, ac- 
count of, 237-238 ; died in 1783, 374. See 
Letters. 

Walton, Doct. John, of Newport, 210. 

Walton's Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, 417. 



614 



INDEX. 



"Wanton, Governor Joseph, Corporator, 
536; Charter Trustee, 537; Episcopal 
Trustee, 1770,549; present at first and 
second meetings of Corporation, 52, 54; 
received degree of A. M. at First Com- 
mencement, 84; present at final meet- 
ing to determine permanent location, 
121 ; voted in favor of Newport, 126 ; 
always attended the Commencements 
until superseded by Governor Cooke, 
143; preceded the procession in 1774, 
260 ; corresponds in regard to the Gas- 
pee, 184; protests against action of the 
General Assembly, deposed from office, 
284. 

"Wanton, John G., Corporator, 536 : Char- 
ter Trustee, 538; Quaker Trustee, 1770, 
549; present at first and second meet- 
ings of Corporation, 52,55; present at 
final meeting to determine permanent 
location of the College, 121 ; voted in 
favor of Newport, 126. 

Wanton, Captain Stephen, 48. 

War of Independence, first British blood 
shed in the attack on the Gaspee, 185. 

War of the Revolution, termed by Backus 
a " church war," 304. 

Ward, Henry, of Newport, signed origi- 
nal petition for charter, 517 ; Bajatist 
Fellow in 1770, Baptist Trustee in 1771, 
550; present at final meeting to deter- 
mine permanent location of the Col- 
lege, 120; offered arguments in favor of 
Newport, 124 ; voted in favor of New- 
port, 126 ; Secretary, appointed to draft 
address to Congress, 288; present at 
meeting of Coriaoration in 1780, 333; 
member of committee to draft petition 
to Congress respecting College edifice, 
334. 

Warb, Hon. Samuel, of Westerly, Cor- 
porator, 536; Charter Trustee, 537; 
Baptist Trustee, 1770, 549; signed origi- 
nal petition for charter, 617 ; signed and 
sealed the Charter as Governor of the 
Colony, Oct. 24, 1765, 542; present at 
first meeting of Baptists in Newport to 



consider motion for a College, 43; 
present at first and second meetings of 
Corporation, brief sketch of, 52, 57; 
alone in his patriotic refusal to sustain 
the Stamp Act, 87; present at final 
meeting to determine permanent loca- 
tion of the College, 121 ; voted in favor 
of Newport, 126 ; member of Committee 
to present and enforce remonstrance to 
General Assembly, 132; appointed by 
General Assembly delegate to first 
Continental Congress, 260; attends 
Conference with the Baptists in Car- 
penter's Hall, 1774, 278. 

Ward, Samuel, son of Hon. Samuel, 
pupil of Manning's Latin School, 52; 
graduated in 1771, served as Major in 
the Revolutionary War, 180; delivered 
an oration in 1774, and received degree 
of A. M.,261. 

Ward's Oratory, 355, 885. 

Ward and Hopkins controversy, 1755- 
1768, stimulated the zeal and passions 
of the Providence and Newport claim- 
ants for the permanent location of the 
College, 128. 

Warner, Captain, of Middletown, 329. 

Warner, John, 138. 

Warner, Samuel, of Wrentham, received 
from the daughter of William Wil- 
liams his pine table which he used at 
Warren, and which is now preserved 
in the College Library, 99. 

Warren, Captain John, of Newport, Bap- 
tist Trustee, 1770, 549; on committee to 
purchase materials for College edifice 
in Warren, 110; on committee to fix 
upon a suitable place in Providence for 
the College edifice, 113; member of 
committee to carry on the building, 114 ; 
present at final meeting to determine 
permanent location of the College, 121; 
voted in favor of Newport, 126 ; mem- 
ber of committee to fix upon a suitable 
place for the College edifice, 136; mem- 
ber of the Building Committee, 139, 150. 

Warren, a thriving town in Bristol 



INDEX. 



615 



County, selected as the home for the 
infant College, 47 ; selected as the place 
for the College edifice, 110-111; meet- 
ing-house, parsonage, arsenal, and pri- 
vate dwellings burned by English 
troops. May 25, 1778, 100 ; people build- 
ing then a new meeting-house, applied 
to Manning to recommend them a min- 
ister who could teach a school, 386. 
"Warren Association, founded by Man- 
ning in 1767, to resist acts of oppression 
on the part of the Standing Order, to 
promote education, and aid the College, 
account of, 72-80; plan and sentiments 
of, modified by Manning and adojited 
in 1769, 76-77 ; faith and order the same 
as expressed by one hundred congrega- 
tions in Great- Britain in 1689, and 
adopted by the Philadelphia Associa- 
tion in 1742, 77 ; set of the minutes from 
1767 to the present time preserved in the 
College Library, 79; Circular Letter for 
1769, 80-81; extract from the minutes 
respecting plan to collect facts and re- 
dress grievances, 78; sessions of 1785 
and 1802 held in the Baptist meeting- 
house in "VVrentham, 99 ; meeting in Bel- 
lingham, September, 1770, appeal of 
Committee on Grievances published in 
Providence Gazette, 165-166 ; authorship 
of Circular Letter ascribed to Manning, 
167-168 ; Association met in Medfield, 
Sept. 7, 1773, determined not to carry in 
any more certificates, paragrajih from 
Circular Letter, cited, 251 ; met in Med- 
field, September, 1774, adopted plan of 
Charleston Association for raising a 
fund for the College, Backus sent to 
Philadelphia to represent the churches 
and endeavor to secure from the Conti- 
nental Congress religious liberty, cer- 
tificate addressed to the delegates in 
Congress, 277-278; met for the first 
time in Providence, Sept. 10, 1782, Col- 
lege uppermost in the thoughts of the 
brethren, voted to publish a Spelling 
Book and Baptist Catechism, 339; the 



meeting in Charleston in 1783, large and 
enthusiastic. Manning attended, an 
address prepared to their " friends and 
countrymen," giving a faithful picture 
of the times at the close of the war, 
extract from, 349, 370-371 ; meets in 1784 
at Mr. Hunt's, Middleborough, extract 
from the minutes in reference to the dis- 
tress made upon a number of the breth- 
ren for the supiiort of Pedobaptist wor- 
shii5, determined to maintain their 
rights and resist oppression, 380, 390; 
founds in 1792 an Education Society in 
accordance with a plan devised by 
Manning, 367; Association report in 
1850 on the priority of the First Bap- 
tist Church, 196; Dr. Stephen Gano for 
nineteen consecutive years moderator 
of the annual meetings, 414 ; extract 
from the Circular Letter of 1791 allud- 
ing to the death of Manning, 502. 

Warren Baptist Church. See Baptist. 

"Warwick, within five miles of the Jersey 
line, mountains infested with Tory 
robbers, 318, 327. 

"Warwick Baptist Church, Six Principle 
in 1764, 73. 

"Washington, proclaimed peace at New- 
burg, Chaplain Gano offered prayer of 
thanksgiving, 39; friend and corre- 
spondent of Hezekiah Smith, 56; friend 
of Dr. Rogers, view of him in his social 
and private relations, 61-62; army en- 
camped at Middlebrook near Elizabeth- 
town, 318; letter to Peed, President of 
Pennsylvania, cited, 322; "Washington 
and General "Wayne, 324 ; headquarters 
one mile north of "West Point, Man- 
ning arrives at, 327 ; introduced to by 
General Greene, 328 ; Thomas Mullett 
interviews at Mount Vernon, 362; what 
John Ryland would do if he were Gen- 
eral "Washington, 376 ; "Washington with 
his suite visits Providence, Tuesday, 
Aug. 17, 1790, visits the College, Man- 
ning's address to, 479-480; address to 
the Corporation in reply to Manning's 



616 



INDEX. 



address, 481 ; Washington the Great in 
contrast with Lewis the Little, 482; de- 
gree of LL. D. conferred on him at the 
Commencement of 1790, poetical effu- 
sion respecting in Rippon's Baptist 
Register, 482. 

"Waterhouse, Dr. Benjamin, description 
of Newport, cited, 135 ; trying experi- 
ences of President Manning narrated, 
157 ; qualified as a Fellow in 1783, ap- 
pointed with Manning, Hopkins, and 
others, to make out Catalogue of the 
Library, 347, 348; appointed with Man- 
ning and Stillman to draft an address 
and i3etition to the King of France, 
brief biographical sketch, 348; chosen 
Professor of Natural History to lecture 
without charge, 381 ; extract from let- 
ter, cited, 392 ; mentions an incident in 
connection with the closing of the Mas- 
sachusetts Federal Convention, 450. 

Waterman, Amaziah, his land purchased 
as an addition to the lot for the new 
meeting-house, 220. 

Waterman, John, name mentioned in 
preamble to Charter, 535. 

Waterman, Richard, one of the founders 
of Rhode Island, 202. 

Watkins, Mr., of Philadelphia, 321. 

Watson, Elkanah, memoirs of, cited, 94. 

Watt's Logic, 335. 

Wayland, President Francis, delivers 
discourse on Nicholas Brown in 1841, 
443. 

Wayland, Francis, of New Haven, Bap- 
tist Fellow, 550. 

Wayland, Heman Lincoln, of Philadel- 
phia, Baptist Trustee, 549. 

Wayne, General, the hero of Stony Point, 
324. 

Wbathersfield, Ct., 329. 

Webb, Colonel, at West Point, 328. 

Webster, Daniel, defended Dartmouth 
College in case before Supreme Court 
of the United States, 531 ; case of Girard 
College, cited, " The Baptist College in 
Rhode Island receives and educates 



youth of all religious sects and beliefs," 
533. 

Webster, Rev. Richard, of Mauch Chunk, 
Pennsylvania, pastor of Joshua Ed- 
wards, 71. 

Well, at southeast corner of University 
Hall, 157. 

West, Benjamin, the artist, siibscribedin 
London £10 10s. for the College, 71; re- 
ceived degree of A. M. in 1770, 165. 

West, Dr. Benjamin, kept a small school 
in Providence in 1770, 461. 

West, John, extends a call to Manning 
in behalf of the Baptist church, 51. 

Westcot, Mr., of Philadelphia, 321, 323. 

Westcott, Elder John, of Foster, 479. 

Westcott, Stukeley, one of the founders 
of Rhode Island, one of the original 
members of the Baptist church, ex- 
cluded from the Salem church, 202- 
203. 

Weston, Francis, one of the founders of 
Rhode Island, 203. 

West Point, Mr. and Mrs. Manning visit 
in company with Lieutenant Hubbel, 
account of, 327-328. 

Wheaton, Comfort, on committee ap- 
pointed to make a draft of new meet- 
ing-house, 220. 

Wheaton, Ephraim, on committee to 
draft charter for Charitable Baptist So- 
ciety, 221 ; signed letter to Manning 
asking him to preach, 472. 

Wheaton, John, signed original petition 
for charter, 517 ; member of committee 
to extend to Manning a call, 48. 

Wheaton, Levi, member of Junior Class 
at breaking up of the College, admitted 
to degree of A. B., 336. 

Wheaton, Nathaniel, member of Stand- 
ing Committee of eleven for building 
new meeting house, 221 ; manager of 
lottery for the meeting-house, 222; one 
of the assessors of taxes in 1774, 543. 

Wheelock, Dr., President of Dartmouth 
College, designed at first as school for 
the poor Indians, 178; likely to succeed 



INDEX. 



617 



in securing for his College the patron- 
age of the King of France, 348. 

Whipple, Cajitain Abraham, one of John 
Brown's trusty shipmasters, prominent 
in the affair of the Gaspee, 18-1. 

"Whipple Hall, recommended that it be 
purchased and used for a free public 
school, 463. 

Whipple, Jeremiah, added to the com- 
mittee to lay before the Corporation the 
Providence subscriptions, 118. • 

White, John, wealthy merchant of Haver- 
hill, only person in town in 1764, who 
owned a chaise, 237. 

White, John, of Harvard College, ad- 
mitted to degree of A. M., 261. 

Whitefield, George, delusion respect- 
ing a child whom he named John, 15 ; 
Jonathan Dickinson his intimate 
friend, 25; reference to, 164. 

Whitmarsh, Major, officer of the Kent- 
ish Guards, 95. 

Whitsitt, William H., President of the 
Southern Baptist Theological Semi- 
nary, erroneous statements respecting 
First Baptist Church, published in 
Johnson's Cyclopsedia, 198-199. 

Whittier, Jacob, represented Haverhill 
Baptist Church at first meeting of War- 
ren Association, 75. 

WicKENDEN,William, ancestor of Stephen 
Hopkins, 197 ; one of the original mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church, 202, 203; 
Elder in the Church, 208. 

WiCKHAM, Charles, signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

WiCKHAM, Thomas, signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Wig of Governor Wanton, the size and 
pattern of the Speaker of the House of 
Commons, 144. 

Wig of President Manning white, and of 
the largest dimensions worn, 144. 

WiGHTMAN, Timothy, of Groton, ap- 
pointed to receive well attested griev- 
ances, 78. 

Wilkinson, Jemima, Manning's account 



of, founded a colony in Yates County 
in 1789, 363-364. 

Wilkinson, William, graduated in 1783, 
good master, taught the College Latin 
School until 1792, appointed Librarian 
in 1785, 345, 387; fitted James Burrill 
for College, 458; removes his school 
from the College edifice to the Brick 
School House, 387. 

WiLLETT, Francis, Corporator, 5.36 ; Char- 
ter Trustee, 537. 

William and Mary College, under Epis- 
copal control, 20. 

Williams, Rev. Mr., of Durham, 329. 

Williams, David, received degree of A. 
M. in 1770, 165. 

Williams, David R., Governor of South 
Carolina, pupil at the Wrentham Acad- 
emy, 98. 

Williams, Jeremiah, 153. 

Williams, Elder John, of Foster, leaves 
the General Assembly and goes home 
to preach, leaving the Senate a tie on 
the question of calling a Convention, 
478 ; voted nay on the question of the 
adoption of the Federal Constitution, 
479. 

Williams, Jonathan, of Harvard College, 
admitted ad eundem to Rhode Island 
College, 189. 

Williams, Professor, account of the Dark 
Day of 1780, cited, 310. 

Williams, Robert, one of the members of 
the Baptist Church, 138, 202. 

Williams, Roger, founded a colony and a 
church in Providence, where liberal 
Baptist sentiments have always pre- 
vailed, 136; preached before he came to 
Providence, and continued to preach 
for some time in Providence, testimony 
respecting Chad Brown, 137 ; Roger 
Williams and his free Colony expe- 
rienced opposition and unfriendliness 
from the Standing Order in New Eng- 
land similar to that experienced by the 
College in later days, 175; founder of 
the Baptist Church in Providence, 196 ; 



618 



INDEX. 



set up a church in 1639, baptized in 
1639, ceremony most likely, according 
to "Whitsitt, performed by sprinkling, 
199; Hopkins's account of the first set- 
tlement in Khode Island, 202; Koger 
and his wife excluded from the Salem 
church, 203; minister of the Salem 
church and of those who came with him 
from Salem to Providence, 204; how 
long he continued pastor of the Baptist 
Church which he organized not deter- 
mined, statements of Winthrop and 
Scott respecting, 205; change in some 
of his religious views, a firm believer in 
the general doctrines of the Baptists, 
his great mission the conversion of the 
Indians to Christianity, 206-207; Man- 
ning not an unworthy successor of 
Roger Williams, 229. 

"Williams, Sidney, married a daughter of 
Asa Messer, 455. 

Williams, William, pupil of Isaac Eaton 
at the Hopewell Academy, 9 ; member 
of the first graduating class, biographi- 
cal sketch, diploma, 97-99; received de- 
gree of A. M. at Commencement of 
1772, 189; present at meeting of the 
Warren Association in 1782, 339; trus- 
tee of Baptist Education Fund, 367; 
daughter died in 1867, aged 90, her fa- 
ther's pine table which he used at War- 
ren given to the University, 99. 

Wilson, Mr., a successful young minis- 
ter of Bordentown, New Jersey, 378, 
457. 

Wilson, Rev. Mr., of England, ser- 
mons presented to the College Library, 
329. 

Wilson, of Philadelphia, threatened with 
banishment to New York, 323. 

Wilson, Jonathan, signed original peti- 
tion for charter, 517. 

Wilson's Navigation, 356. 

Wilton, Samuel, of England, recom- 
mended by Ryland for the honors of 
the College, 174. 



Winchester, Elhanan, instrumental of a 
great revival in New England in 1780, 
374 ; alas ! he has wofully changed his 
sentiments, 375; his apostasy a lamen- 
tation amongst the Baptists, self emu- 
lation the rock on which he split, 378 ; 
brief sketch, account of his relations 
with the Baptist Church in Philadel- 
phia, 382-384 ; in possession of his fifth 
wife and a red coat, an eccentric genius, 
399. 

WiNGATE, Judge, account of the allot- 
ment of places in the college classes at 
Harvard, 90. 

WiNSLOw, Samuel, and Jane, his wife, 
161. 

WiNSOR, Col. Abraham, 314. 

WiNSOR, Samuel, pastor of the Baptist 
Church in Providence, 46; Corpora- 
tor, 536: Charter Trustee, 538; Bap- 
tist Trustee, 1770,649; present at first 
and second meetings of the Corpora- 
tion, 52, 57; present at final meeting 
to determine permanent location of 
the College, 121 ; grandson of Roger 
Williams and a deacon in the church, 
succeeded James Brown as Elder, 210; 
home in Johnston, three miles from the 
meeting-house, 212; ga-ve seventy-five 
acres of land to the College, brief bio- 
graphical sketch, 213; believer in the 
doctrine of Laying on of Hands, and 
opposed to singing in public worship, 
214; opposed to Manning, withdraws 
from the church and forms a Six Prin- 
ciple Church in Johnston, 215-216; sep- 
aration from the church alienated him 
from the College, 218; statement in 
Stiles's diary, " The Browns and 
Jenckes intend to turn off Elder Win- 
sor and put in President Manning," 
143. 

WiNTHROP's Journal has the first dis- 
tinct record of any organic action in 
Providence of a Baptist Church, 200, 
203; statement respecting Roger Wil- 



INDEX. 



619 



liams's immersion, or second baptism, 
205. 

"WiTsius's works in Latin, 402. 

"Wood, Amos, about to enter the Sopho- 
more class in 1784, 385. 

"Wood, Jabez, pastor of the venerable 
Baptist Church in Swansea, 47. 

Wood, Rev. Mr., settlement at "Ware, 461. 

"WooDBRiDGE, desolatious at, 326. 

"Woodman, Isaac, a Calvinistic Baptist 
minister of England, Ryland's account 
of, 232, 245, 254; received degree of A. 
M. in 1770, 165. See Letters. 

"Woodruff, Mrs. Joseph, sister of Presi- 
dent Manning, 315, 318, 319; 326, 327, 342 ; 
died previous to 1766, 24. 

"Woodruff, Samuel, signed Manning's 
diploma, 32. 

"Woods, J. C. B., of Providence, Baptist 
Trustee, 549. 

"Woods, Marshall, of Providence, Baptist 
Trustee, 549. 



"Wool, combination entered into for sup- 
ply of, 86. 

"Worthington's History of Dedham, 
cited, 200. 

"Wren, Sir Christopher, 223. 

"Wrentham Academy, founded by "Wil- 
liam "Williams, 97, 200. 

"Wyatt, Charles H., of Baltimore, has the 
seal of the proposed rival college in 
Newport, 135. See Letters. 

"Wyatt, Stanley, signed original petition 
for charter, 517. 

Yale College, controlled by Congrega- 
tionalists, 20; funds increased by lot- 
teries, 187. 

Yearly Meeting of Six Principle Bap- 
tists, 72; declined to interfere in con- 
troversy between Elder "Winsor and 
President Manning, 215; decided that 
the church at Providence should be 
considered the old church, 217. 



The End. 



Opinion of the Supreme Court Relative to the Taxation of 
College Property. 



The filial decision of the Supreme Court in the case referred to on 
pages 548 and 549, comes to hand just as these last sheets are passing 
through the press. The opinion of the Court was written by the Hon. 
Judge Tillinghast. Our readers will be glad to see it transferred to 
the pages of this work where it can be available for future reference. 
It belongs to the history of the Charter. 

Brown University \ 

V. > Dem. No. 136. 

Daniel L. D. Granger, City Treasurer. / 

OPINION. 

Tillinghast, J. The main question raised by the pleadings in this case is whether 
a certain parcel of real estate, situate on Westminster Street, in the City of Providence, 
which the jilaintiif owns and holds for its corporate purposes, is liable to taxation. 
Said real estate constitutes a part of the endowment of the plaintiff Corporation. 

In the year 1895, the assessors of taxes of said city assessed a tax on said real estate 
amounting to §^2,491. 20, which sum, together with interest and expenses of levy, was 
paid by the plaintiff under protest, and this action is brought to recover the same, on 
the ground that the tax was illegal. 

The Charter of the plaintiff was granted in February, 1764. It provides that the 
corporators shall be a " body corporate and politic," "to have, take, possess, purchase, 
acquire, or otherwise receive and hold lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels, 
or other estates, of all which they may and shall stand and be seized, notwithstanding 
any misnomer of the College or the Corporation hereof." 

"And with the monies, estates, and revenues, of which they shall from time to time 
become legally seized as aforesaid, to endow the same and erect the necessary buildings 
and edifices thereof on such place within this Colony as they shall think convenient. 
And generally to regulate, order, and govern the same, appoint officers and make laws 
as hereinafter prescribed, and hold, use, and enjoy all the liberties, privileges, exemp- 
tions, dignities, and immunities enjoyed by any college or university whatever." 

"And furthermore for the greater encouragement of this seminary of learning, and 
that the same may be amply endowed and enfranchised with the same privileges, digni- 



622 OPINION OF THE SUPREME COURT. 

ties, and immunities enjoyed by the American colleges and European universities, we 
do grant, enact, ordain, and declare, and it is hereby granted, enacted, ordained, and 
declared, that the College estate, the estates, persons, and families of the president and 
professors for the time being lying and being within the Colony, with the persons of 
the tutors and students during their residence at the College, shall be freed and 
exempted from all taxes, serving on jurors and menial services, and that the persons 
aforesaid shall be exempted from bearing arms, impress and military services except 
in case of invasion." 

" And lastly, we the governor and company aforesaid do for ourselves and our suc- 
cessors forever hereby enact, grant, and confirm unto the said Trustees and Fellows, and 
to their successors, that this Charter of incorporation and every part thereof shall be 
good and available in all things in the law according to our true intent and meaning, 
and shall be construed, reputed, and adjudged in all cases most favorable on the behalf 
and for the best benefit and behoof of the said Trustees and Fellows and their succes- 
sors so as most effectually to answer the valuable ends of this useful Institution." 

In view of the provisions of the Charter above set out, the first question which logi- 
cally presents itself is, whether the exemption clause thereof is broad enough to include 
the land in question. It is very clear from the language used in the Charter, taken as a 
whole, that the General Assembly intended to foster and promote the interests and wel- 
fare of the College as far as possible. The preamble is couched in language of unmis- 
takable import in this regard. It is as follows : 

"Whereas institutions for liberal education are highly beneficial to society, by 
forming the rising generation to virtue, knowledge and useful literature and thus pre- 
serving in the community a succession of men duly qualified for discharging the 
ofiices of life with usefulness and reputation, they have therefore justly merited and 
received the attention and encouragement of every wise and well regulated state : And 
whereas a public school or seminary erected for that purpose within this Colony, to 
which the youth may freely resort for education in the vernacular and learned lan- 
guages and in the liberal arts and sciences, would be for the general advantage and 
honor of the government : And whereas Mr. Nicholas Brown and others (naming them) 
with many other persons appear as undertakers in the valuable design," &c. 

The General Assembly evidently contemplated that the College would be endowed, 
and in order that it might be, and that it might be enfranchised, with the same privi- 
leges and immunities enjoyed by the American colleges and European universities, 
they ordained that the College estate should be freed and exempted from all taxes. Nor 
did they stop here ; but, lest their desire to specially favor this valuable institution of 
learning should be misunderstood, they declared that "the Charter and every part 
thereof shall be good and available in all things in law, according to our true intent and 
meaning, and shall be construed, reputed and adjudged in all cases most /avoidably on the 



OPINION OF THE SUPREME COURT. 623 

behalf and for the best benefit and behoof of the said Trustees and Fellows and their Succes- 
sors so as most effectually to answer the valuable ends of this useful Institution." 

It is difficult to see how the intention of the General Assembly to exempt all of the 
property which might be owned by the plaintiff from taxation could have been more 
clearly and emphatically expressed. The Charter abounds in expressions of almost 
paternal solicitude for the welfare of the College, and then winds up by providing that 
it shall be construed most favorably in behalf of the Corporation. To this it might be 
added, as matter of common knowledge, that substantially the same fostering spirit 
which dominated the Colonial General Assembly in the passage of this Charter has 
ever since prevailed amongst all classes of our citizens towards the College, it having 
always been considered the special pride and honor of the State as an Institution of 
higher education. 

But it is argued by the City Solicitor that the phrase, " the College estate," in the 
Charter, ought to be given its most limited meaning, and held to include only the Col- 
lege estate prosier, i. e., the College buildings and grounds, and not the endowment of 
the College which might comprise both real and personal property ; and in this connec- 
tion he argues that there is a wide difference between the meaning of the phrases, " the 
College estate," and " the estate of the College." Perhaps there might be some force in 
this argument if this phrase stood alone, but, taken as it must be in connection with 
the entire exemption clause in question, there can be no doubt whatsoever that it was 
intended to include property held by the plaintiff by way of endowment, as well as the 
College estate proper ; and to place any different construction thereon would be to do 
violence to the manifest intention of the Legislature. 

It is doubtless true that, in the construction of statutes whereby the State has abro- 
gated a part of its sovereignty, the strict rule of interpretation contended for obtains, 
on the ground that the ^presumption is against such abrogation of power. And as in 
England the Crown is not reached by statute except by express words or by necessary 
implication in any case, where it would be ousted of an existing prerogative or interest, 
so here the State is not reached in any such case except by the use of express words or 
by necessary implication. That is to say, it is to be presumed that the Legislature does 
not intend to deprive the State of any part of its sovereign power unless the intent to 
do so is clearly expressed or arises by necessary implication from the language 
employed. See Endlich on Interpretation of Statutes, § 161, and cases cited; Vickburg, 
etc., R. R. Co. V. Dennis, 116 U. S, 665; Yazoo Railroad Co. v. Thomas, 132 U. S. 174; Cleve- 
land V. Norton, 6 Cush. 383-4; St. Joseph's Church v. Tax Assessors of Providence, 12 R. 1.20; 
In re College Street, 6 R. I. 484. This doctrine- was clearly enunciated in Providence Bank 
V. Pitman, 4 Pet. 561, by Chief Justice Marshall, who, in speaking of the taxing power 
of the State, said : "It would seem that the relinquishment of such a power is never to 
be assumed. We will not say that the State may not relinquish it ; that a consideration 



624 OPINION OF THE SUPREME COURT. 

sufficiently valuable to induce a partial release of it may not exist ; but as the whole 
community is interested in retaining it undiminished, that community has a right to 
insist that its abandonment ought not to be presumed in a case in which the deliberate 
purpose of the State to abandon it does not appear." 

Then, however, as in the case before us, the statute does contain language which is 
not only easily capable of the meaning contended for by the plaintiff Corporation, but 
was evidently intended to have that meaning; and, furthermore, when there is coupled 
with said language a positive direction as to the rule of construction which shall be 
applied thereto, the plain and obvious duty of the court is to declare the intention of 
the law accordingly; and to do otherwise, as the defendant urges us to do in this case, 
would be to disregard our highest obligation. 

But the defendant's counsel further contends that the exemption clause in said Char- 
ter was repealed by article 1, section 2, of the State Constitution, adopted in 1842, which 
provides that " All free governments are instituted for the protection, safety, and happi- 
ness of the people. All laws, therefore, should be made for the good of the whole ; and 
the burdens of the State ought to be fairly distributed among its citizens." 

Assuming, for the purpose of the argument, that it was competent for the people to 
repeal that part of the Charter in question, yet we fail to see anything in said constitu- 
tional provision which can iDossibly be construed to have that effect. The language 
used has no relevancy to, or bearing upon, the Charter in question. It is very general, 
and was evidently intended as a declaration of certain great and fundamental princi- 
ples which lie at the foundation of every republican form of government. See In re 
Dorrance Street, 4: R. I. 249; Cleveland v. Tripp, 13 R. I. 62. That the last clause of said 
article relates to, and was intended to control, in a general way at least, the framing of 
laws relating to taxation, there can be no doubt. It clearly means that taxes are to be 
fairly distributed ; that A ought not to be taxed and B exempted from taxation, they 
being similarly situated ; nor ought the one to be taxed on a different basis from the 
other. See McTiviggan v. Hunter, 18 R. 1. 778. But that it seems that the General Assem- 
bly has no power to exempt any property whatever from taxation, or that property 
theretofore exempted by charter was to be affected thereby, is wholly unreasonable. 
The whole course of State legislation, from the adoption of the Constitution to the 
present time, conclusively negatives any such intention. Commencing with the Digest 
of 1844 (see page 431), the statutes of this State have expressly and uniformly exempted 
from taxation " property specially exempted by charter," together with property 
invested in houses for public religious worship, houses for schools, and the land on 
which they stand, etc., and various kinds of property used for charitable purposes. See 
Revision of 1857, cap. 37, §2; Gen. Stat. 1872, cap, 38, §2; Pub. Stat. 1882, cap, 41, §1; 
Gen. Laws 1896, cap. 44, § 2. Moreover, the General Assembly has expressly recognized 
both the validity and the inviolability of the particular exemption in question, by the 
passage, on Feb. 11, 1863, of Pub. Laws R. I. cap. 451, which is as follows : 



OPINION OF THE SUPREME COURT. 625 

" An Act to limit the Exemption from Taxation of the Estates, Persons, and 
Families of the President and Professors of Brown University. 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as folloivs : 

Section 1. The Corporation of Brown University in Providence consenting hereto, 
that the estates, persons, and families of the President and Professors, for the time 
being, of said University, and of their successors in office, shall not hereafter be freed 
and exempted from taxes for more than the amount of ten thousand dollars, for each of 
such officers, his estates, person, and family included. 

Sec. 2. The vote of said Corporation under the seal, and certified by the secretary 
thereof, declaring that the Corporation, being authorized by the President and Profes- 
sors of said University, does in behalf of the President and Professors, and in behalf of 
said Corporation, consent to this act, shall be deemed and taken to be proof of their con- 
sent thereto, when said vote shall have been filed in the office of the Secretary of State." 

Still further, from the time when the plaintiff was incorporated to the present time, 
a period of a century and a third, so far as we are informed, no tax has ever before been 
assessed upon any property whatsoever owned by it. Such a uniform, long-continued 
and practical interpretation of the Charter would be entitled to great weight, even in 
case of doubt as to the proper construction thereof ; but when taken in connection with 
the plain and manifest meaning of the exemption clause in question, it would seem to 
be about as conclusive as both language and conduct could make it See Union Com- 
pany V. Sprague, li R. I. 452-6; In re Realty Voters, 14 R. I. G45; Amei'ican Bank v. Mum- 
ford, 4 R. I. 478; Packard v. Richardson, 17 Mass. 144. 

The City Solicitor has filed an elaborate brief in which he has discussed with much 
ability the power of the General Assembly to repeal the exemi^tiou clause in question, 
and in which he argues at length that such a repeal would not be a violation of the con- 
stitutional provision regarding the impairing of the obligation of contracts. We do not 
find it necessary, however, to consider this part of his brief. No law has been passed 
repealing the clause in question, and hence it would be a work of supererogation to 
determine what its effect would be if passed, even if such a decision would be of any 
force or validity, which of course it would not. It is enough for us to declare that the 
provision of the Charter in question is in full force and operation, and hence that the 
tax assessed upon the property of the plaintiff was wholly illegal and void. 

The demurrer is overruled, and case remitted to the Common Pleas Division with 
direction to enter judgment for the plaintiff. 
79 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS 



Hon. Joshua M. Addeman, 

Providence, R. I. 

Adelbert College, 

Per Hon. John Hay, 

Cleveland, Ohio. 

Hon. Nelson W. Aldrich, 

United States Senator, 

Providence, R. I. 

DocT. Justin Allen. 

Topsfield, Mass. 

Rev. Dr. E. Benjamin Andrews, 

President of Brown University, 

Providence, R. I. 

Hon. James B. Angell, LL. D., 

President of University of Michigan, 
Ann Arbor, Mich. 

AsTOR Library, 

Per F. Saunders, Librarian, 

New York City. 

Mr. Richard M. Atwater, 

Syracuse, N. Y. 

James Austin, Jr., Esq., 

Toledo, Ohio. 

Mr. Franklin R. Barrett, 

Portland, Maine. 

N. J. Bartlett & Co., Booksellers, 

Boston, Mass. 

Mr. E. Baxter, Artist, 

Bayside, Warwick, R. I. 

Mr. Martin Bennett, 

Hartford, Connecticut. 

Hon. Thomas "W. Bicknell, 

Providence, R. I. 



Rev. Dr. Moses H. Bixby, 

Providence, R. I. 

*Prof. Eli W. Blake, 

Brown University, 

Providence, R. I, 

John L. Blake, Esq., 

Orange, New Jersey. 

Boston Athenj5UM, 

PerW. C. Lane, Librarian, 

Boston, Mass. 

Boston Public Library, 

Per Herbert Putnam, Librarian, 

Boston, Mass. 

Hon. Augustus O. Bourn, 

Bristol, R. I. 

BowDOiN College Library, 

Brunswick, Maine. 

Doct. Frank S. Bradford, 

Morristown, N. J. 

Hon. John S. Brayton, 

Fall River, Mass. 

Brookline Public Library, 

Per C. K. Bolton, Librarian, 

Brookline, Mass. 

Mr. John Nicholas Brown, 5 copies. 

Providence, R. I. 

Brown University Library, 

Per H. L. Koopman, Librarian, 

Providence, R. I. 

BucKNELL Library, 

Crozer Theological Seminary, 
Per Robert P. Bliss, Librarian, 

Chester, Penn. 



628 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 



Buffalo Library, 

Per J. H. Larned, Superintendent, 
Buffalo, N. Y. 
Mr. Joseph G. Chapman, 

St. Louis, Mo. 
Mr. Frank L. Child, 

Boston, Mass. 
Cincinnati Public Library, 

Per A. W. Whelpley, Librarian, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 
DocT. Augustus P. Clarke, 

Cambridge, Mass. 
*HoN. Charles L. Colby, 

8 East Sixty-ninth Street, 

New York City. 
DocT. George L. Collins, 

Providence, R. I. 
Columbia College Library, 

Per George H. Baker, Librarian, 

New York City. 
Mr. John W. Conger, 

President of Ouachita College, 

Arkadelphia, Arkansas. 
Mrs. Samuel S. Cox, 

13 East Twelfth Street, 

New York City. 
Prof. Ben.jamin F. Clarke, 

Brown University, 

Providence, R. I. 
Mr. James E. Cranston, 

Providence, R. I. 

Ckozer Theological Seminary, 
Per President Weston, 

Chester, Penn. 
Mr. Jambs H. Davenport, 

Providence, R. I. 
DocT. Frank L. Day, 

Providence, R. I. 
Mr. John L. Denison, 

Hartford, Ct. 
Detroit Public Library, 

Per H. M. Utley, Librarian, 

Detroit, Mich. 



Drexel Institute Library, 

Per President McAllister, 

Philadelphia, Penn. 

' Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Drowne, 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Mr. William Butler Duncan, 

No. 1 Fifth Avenue, 

New York City. 
Samuel C. Eastman, Esq., 

Concord, N. H. 
Forbes Library, 

Per C. A. Cutter, Librarian, 

Northampton, Mass. 

Mr. Asa Messer Gammell, 

Providence, R. I. 

Mr. Robert I. Gammell, 

Providence, R. I. 

Mr. William Gammell, 

Providence, R. I. 

Mr. Edward F. Gamwell, 

Cambridge, Mass. 
Col. William Goddabd, 

Providence, R. I. 
Dr. Charles B. Goff, 

Providence, R. I. 

Prof. Nathan E Goldthwait, 

Boone, Iowa. 

John M. Gould, Esq., 

Newton, Mass. 

Mr. Henry T, Grant, Jr., 

Providence, R. I. 



Mr. Stephen Greene, 
Mrs. J. Anson Guild, 



Boston, Mass. 

Brookline, Mass, 

Mr. George M. Guild, 

72 Huntington Avenue, 

Boston, Mass. 
Harvard University Library, 

Per Justin Winsor, Librarian, 

Cambridge, Mass. 



LIST OF SUBSCKIBERS. 



629 



Prof. Albert Harkness, LL. D., 
Brown University, 

Providence, R. I. 

Col. Rush C. Hawkins, 

21 "West Twentietli Street, 

New York City. 
Hon. John.Hay, 

"Washington, D. C. 

Hon. Ratcliffb Hicks, 

New York City. 
Hon. Henry Howard, 

Providence, R. I. 
Mr. James H. Hoyt, 

Cleveland, Ohio. 

Mr. Ray Greene Huling, 

Cambridge, Mass. 
Mrs. David Hunt, 

Catasauqua, Penn. 

Indianapolis Public Library, 

Per E. Browning, Librarian, 

Indianapolis, Indiana. 

DocT. George F. Jelly, 

Boston, Mass. 
Mr. Elisha T. Jenks, 

Middleborough, Mass. 
James L. Jenks, Esq., 

Pawtucket, R. I. 
Mr. Augustine Jones, 

Principal of the Friends School, 

Providence, R. I. 

Mr. Henry V. A. Joslin, 

Providence, R. I. 

"William "V. Kellen, Esq., 2 copies, 

Boston, Mass. 
DocT. William "W. Keen, LL. D., 

Philadelphia, Penn. 

Mb. George Gordon King, 

5 "West Thirty-fifth Street, 3 copies. 

New York City. 
Rev. Dr, Henry M. King, 

Providence, R. I. 



Mr. H. L. Koopman, 

Librarian Brown University, 

Providence, R. I. 
Mr. Alfred G. Langley, 

Newport, II. I. 
Mr. Oliver B. Leonard, 

Plainfleld, N. J. 
John Erastus Lester, Esq., 

Providence, R. I. 

Mr. Leontine Lincoln, 

Fall River, Mass. 

Mr. William E. Lincoln, 

Pittsburgh, Penn. 

Mr. Joseph F. Lindsay, Jr., 

Fall River, Mass. 
Hon. Charles W. Lippitt, 

Governor of Rhode Island, 

Providence, R. I. 
His Honor, Edwin D. McGuinness, 

Mayor of Providence, R. I. 
Mercantile Library, 

Per W. T. Peoples, Librarian, 

New York City. 
Donald L. Morrill, Esq., 

Chicago, Illinois. 
Prof. Winfred H. Munro, 

Brown University, 

Providence, R. I. 
Aaron H. Nelson, Esq., 

Helena, Montana. 
New England Historic Genealogical 
Society, 

Per John Ward Dean, 

Trustee of Kidder Fund, 
Boston, Mass. 
New Hampshire State Library, 

Concord, N. H. 

Newton Theological Institution, 
Per Rev. Dr. George Bullen, 

Newton Centre, Mass. 
Prof. Albert D. Palmer, 

Brown University, 

Providence, R. I. 



630 



LIST OF SUBSCKIBERS. 



Rev. Dr. Edwards A. Park, 

Andover, Mass. 
Rev. Charles A. Parker, 

Cambridge, Mass. 
James Parker & Co., 

Foreign Booksellers, 

Oxford, England. 
Pawtucket Public Library, 

Per "W. R. Sayles, Trustee, 

Pawtucket, R. I. 
Mr. Calvin F. Pease, 

Superintendent of Schools, 

Northampton, Mass. 
DocT. Fenner H. Peckham, 

Providence, R. I. 
*Mr. John Peirce, 

Providence, R. I. 
*Rev. Dr. S. Dryden Phelps, 

New Haven, Ct. 
Providence Athen^um, 

Per J. L. Harrison, Librarian, 

Providence, R. I. 
Providence Public Library, 

Per William E. Foster, Librarian, 

Providence, R. I. 
Mr. C. C. Pursell, Bookseller, 

Washington, D. C. 
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 

27 West Twenty-third Street, 

New York City. 
Mr. Philip J. Reid, 

Detroit, Mich. 
Mr. Edward S. Rhodes, 

City Messenger, 

Providence, R. I. 
Rhode Island Historical Society, 
Per Hon. Amos Perry, Secretary, 

Providence, R. I. 
Rochester Theological Seminary, 
Per President Strong, 

Rochester, N. Y. 
Hon. Horatio Rogers, 

Judge of the Supreme Court, 

Providence, R. I. 



Mrs. Henry G. Russell, 3 copies. 

Providence, R. I. 
James Scammon, Esq., 

Kansas City, Mo. 
Capt. William B. Sears, 

45 Kilby Street, 

Boston, Mass. 
William P. Sheffield, Esq., 

Newport, R. I. 
Prof. Francis Wayland Shepardson, 
University of Chicago, 

Chicago, Illinois. 
Mr. Edgar O. Silver, 

110 Boylston Street, 

Boston, Mass. 

Southern Baptist Theological Semi- 
nary, 

Per President Broadus, 

Louisville, Kentucky. 

Mr. Edward L. Spink, 

228 South Water Street, 

Providence, R. I. 
Mrs. R. Rose Stearns, 

374 Newbury Street, 

Boston, Mass. 
George L. Stedman, Esq., 

Albany, N. Y. 
Mr. Charles M. Stillman, 

55 Fulton Street, 

New York City. 

Hon. John H. Stiness, 

Judge of the Supreme Court, 

Providence, R. I. 
CoL. Elijah B. Stoddard, 

Worcester, Mass. 
Hon. Oscar J. Straus, 2 copies, 
42 Warren Street, 

New York City. 

Mr. Smith Sweet, 

Care J. H. & J. B. Sweet, 

Providence, R. I. 

Mr. Edward T. Taft, 

Providence, R. I. 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 



631 



Hon. Royal C. Taft, 

Providence, R. I. 
Dr. Samuel Thurber, 

13 Westminster Avenue, 

Roxbury, Mass. 
Rev. Dr. Charles F. Thwing, 
President of Western Reserve 

University, 
Cleveland, Ohio. 
James Tillinghast, Esq., 

Providence, R. I. 
Hon. Pardon E. Tillinghast, 

Judge of the Supreme Court, 

Pawtucket, R. I. 
Mr. Frank L. Tinkham, 

Taunton, Mass. 
Mr. Frank L. Titcomb, 

Everett, Mass. 
George F. Tucker, Esq., 

Court House, 

Boston, Mass. 
Union Theological Seminary, 

Per Charles R. Gillette, Librarian, 

New York City. 



Hon. Francis Wayland, 

Yale University, 

New Haven, Ct. 

Mr. William B. Weeden, 

Providence, R. I. 

DocT. James L. Wheaton, 

Pawtucket, R. I. 

Rev. Dr. Beniah L. Whitman, 

President of Columbian University, 
Washington, D. C. 

Mr. William W. Whitman, 

Troy, New York. 

Mr. Henry D. Williams, Artist, 

Boston, Mass. 

WoBURN Public Library, 

Per W. R. Cutter, Librarian, 

Woburn, Mass. 

Worcester Free Public Library, 
Per S. S. Green, Librarian, 

Worcester, Mass. 



* Deceased. 



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